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xsetroot(1X)
X11R6
NAME
  xsetroot - root window parameter setting utility for X

SYNOPSIS
  xsetroot [-help] [def] [-display display] [cursor cursor-file maskfile]
  [-cursor_name cursorname] [-bitmap filename] [-mod x y] [-gray] [-grey]
  [-fg color] [-bg color] [-rv] [solid color] [-name string]

OPTIONS
  The various options are as follows:

  -help
      Print a usage message and exit.

  -def
      Reset 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
      This lets you change the pointer cursor to whatever you want when the
      pointer cursor is outside of any window. Cursor and mask files are
      bitmaps (little pictures), and can be made with the bitmap(1X) program.
      You probably want the mask file to be all black until you get used to
      the way masks work.

  -cursor_name cursorname
      This lets you change the pointer cursor to one of the standard cursors
      from the cursor font.  Refer to appendix B of the X protocol for the
      names (except that the XC_ prefix is elided for this option).

  -bitmap filename
      Use the bitmap specified in the file to set the window pattern.  You
      can make your own bitmap files (little pictures) using the bitmap(1X)
      program.	The entire background will be made up of repeated "tiles" of
      the bitmap.

  -mod x y
      This is used if you want 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.

  -gray
      Make the entire background gray.	(Easier on the eyes.)

  -grey
      Make the entire background grey.

  -fg color
      Use color as the foreground color.  Foreground and background colors
      are meaningful only in combination with -cursor, -bitmap, or -mod.

  -bg color
      Use color as the background color.

  -rv This exchanges the foreground and background colors.  Normally the
      foreground color is black and the background color is white.

  -solid color
      This sets the background of the root window to the specified color.
      This option is only useful on color servers.

  -name string
      Set the name of the root window to string.  There is no default value.
      Usually a name is assigned to a window so that the window manager can
      use a text representation when the window is iconified.  This option is
      unused since you cannot iconify the background.

  -display display
      Specifies the server to connect to; see X(1X).

DESCRIPTION
  The setroot program allows you to tailor the appearance of the background
  ("root") window on a workstation display running X.  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 startup file. If
  no options are specified, or if -def is specified, the window is reset to
  its default state.  The -def option can be specified along with other
  options and only the non-specified characteristics will be reset to the
  default state.

  Only one of the background color/tiling changing options (-solid, -gray,
  -grey, -bitmap, and -mod) may be specified at a time.

SEE ALSO
  X(1X), xset(1X), xrdb(1X)

AUTHOR
  Mark Lillibridge, MIT Project Athena

Index for Section 1X

Alphabetical listing for X

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