initscr(3X)                                                     initscr(3X)

NAME
     initscr, newterm - screen initialisation functions

SYNOPSIS
     cc [flag ...] file ... -lcurses [library ...]

     #include <curses.h>

     WINDOW *initscr(void);

     SCREEN *newterm(char *type, FILE *outfile, FILE *infile);

DESCRIPTION
     The initscr() function determines the terminal type and initialises
     all implementation data structures. The TERM environment variable
     specifies the terminal type. The initscr() function also causes the
     first refresh operation to clear the screen. If errors occur,
     initscr() writes an appropriate error message to standard error and
     exits. The only functions that can be called before initscr() or
     newterm() are filter(), ripoffline(), slkinit(), useenv() and the
     functions whose prototypes are defined in <term.h>. Portable applica-
     tions must not call initscr() twice.

     The newterm() function can be called as many times as desired to
     attach a terminal device. The type argument points to a string speci-
     fying the terminal type, except that if type is a null pointer, the
     TERM environment variable is used. The outfile and infile arguments
     are file pointers for output to the terminal and input from the termi-
     nal, respectively. It is unspecified whether Curses modifies the
     buffering mode of these file pointers. The newterm() function should
     be called once for each terminal.

     The initscr() function is equivalent to:

          newterm(getenv("TERM"), stdout, stdin); return stdscr;

     If the current disposition for the signals SIGINT, SIGQUIT or SIGTSTP
     is SIGDFL, then initscr() may also install a handler for the signal,
     which may remain in effect for the life of the process or until the
     process changes the disposition of the signal.

     The initscr() and newterm() functions initialise the curterm external
     variable.

RETURN VALUE
     Upon successful completion, initscr() returns a pointer to stdscr.
     Otherwise, it does not return.

     Upon successful completion, newterm() returns a pointer to the speci-
     fied terminal. Otherwise, it returns a null pointer.





Page 1                       Reliant UNIX 5.44                Printed 11/98

initscr(3X)                                                     initscr(3X)

ERRORS
     No errors are defined.

NOTES
     A program that outputs to more than one terminal should use newterm()
     for each terminal instead of initscr(). A program that needs an indi-
     cation of error conditions, so it can continue to run in a line-
     oriented mode if the terminal cannot support a screen-oriented pro-
     gram, would also use this function.

     Applications should perform any required handling of the SIGINT,
     SIGQUIT or SIGTSTP signals before calling initscr().

SEE ALSO
     curses(3X), delscreen(3X), doupdate(3X), delcurterm(3X), filter(3X),
     slkattroff(3X), useenv(3X), curses(5), term(5).






































Page 2                       Reliant UNIX 5.44                Printed 11/98