termdef

PURPOSE

     Queries terminal characteristics.

SYNOPSIS
     termdef [ -c -l -t ]

DESCRIPTION

     The termdef command identifies  the current display type,
     the active lines setting, or the current columns setting,
     thus  simplifying the  task  of resetting  the lines  and
     columns when you  switch fonts or of  resetting the $TERM
     environment  variable  when  you  switch  displays.   The
     terminfo  file defines  the default  number of  lines and
     columns for each  display, but the lines  and columns can
     change depending upon which font is currently active.  In
     addition, the  $TERM environment variable does  not auto-
     matically reflect  the display currently being  used.  If
     you are using a display  other than the ibm5151, you must
     explicitly  reset this  variable to  access the  terminfo
     correctly.

FLAGS

     -c Returns the current column value.
     -l Returns the current lines value.
     -t Returns the name  of the current display  (this is the
        default action).

EXAMPLE

     To set  environment variables according to  the values of
     the currently active font  and display, add the following
     lines to the /etc/rc file:

       TERM=`termdef`
       COLUMNS=`termdef  -c`
       LINES=`termdef  -l`
       export TERM LINES COLUMNS

RELATED INFORMATION

     The following command:  "display."

     The terminfo file  and the hft special file  in AIX Oper-
     ating System Technical Reference.