xsetroot(1) X Version 11 (22 October 1988) xsetroot(1)
NAME
xsetroot - sets root window parameters
SYNOPSIS
xsetroot [-options ...]
DESCRIPTION
The xsetroot utility lets you tailor the appearance of the
background ("root") window. Normally, you experiment with
xsetroot until you find a personalized look that you like,
then put the xsetroot command that produces it into your X
start-up file. If you specify no options, or -def, the
window resets to its default state. You can also specify
the -def option along with other options, and only the non-
specified characteristics reset to the default state.
Only one of the background color or tile changing options
(-solid, -gray, -grey, -bitmap, and -mod) can be specified
at a time.
OPTIONS
-help
Prints a brief description of the allowable options.
-def Resets unspecified attributes to the default values.
(Restores the background to the familiar gray mesh and
the cursor to the hollow X shape.)
-cursor cursorfile maskfile
Lets you change the pointer to whatever you want when
the pointer is outside of any window. Cursor and mask
files are bitmaps (little pictures), that you can make
with the bitmap(1) program. You probably want the mask
file to be all black until you get used to the way
masks work.
-cursorname
Lets you specify one of the built-in cursor fonts.
These are contained in the file
usr/include/x11/cursorfont.h.
-bitmap filename
Specifies the bitmap in filename to set the window
pattern. This makes the entire background consist of
repeated "tiles" of the bitmap.
-mod x y
Makes a plaid-like grid pattern on your screen. x and
y are integers ranging from 1 to 16. Try the different
combinations. Zero and negative numbers are taken as
1.
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xsetroot(1) X Version 11 (22 October 1988) xsetroot(1)
-gray
Makes the entire background gray. (This is easier on
the eyes.)
-grey
Makes the entire background grey.
-fg color
Makes color the foreground color. Foreground and
background colors are meaningful only in combination
with -cursor, -bitmap, or -mod.
-bg color
Makes color the background color.
-rv Exchanges the foreground and background colors.
Normally the foreground color is black and the
background color is white.
-solid color
Sets the window color to color.
-name string
Sets the name of the root window to string. There is
no default value. Usually you assign a name to a
window so that the window manager can use a text
representation when the window is iconified. You
cannot iconify the root window.
-display display
Specifies the server.
SEE ALSO
X(1)
xset(1)
xrdb(1)
COPYRIGHT
Copyright 1988, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
See X(1) for a full statement of rights and permissions.
AUTHOR
Mark Lillibridge, MIT Project Athena.
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