


XSETROOT(1)					      XSETROOT(1)


NNAAMMEE
       xsetroot - root window parameter setting utility for X

SSYYNNOOPPSSIISS
       xxsseettrroooott	 [-help]  [-def] [-display _d_i_s_p_l_a_y] [-cursor _c_u_r_-
       _s_o_r_f_i_l_e _m_a_s_k_f_i_l_e] [-cursor_name _c_u_r_s_o_r_n_a_m_e] [-bitmap _f_i_l_e_-
       _n_a_m_e]  [-mod  _x _y] [-gray] [-grey] [-fg _c_o_l_o_r] [-bg _c_o_l_o_r]
       [-rv] [-solid _c_o_l_o_r] [-name _s_t_r_i_n_g]

DDEESSCCRRIIPPTTIIOONN
       The _s_e_t_r_o_o_t program allows you to tailor the appearance of
       the  background	("root")  window on a workstation display
       running X.  Normally, you experiment with  _x_s_e_t_r_o_o_t  until
       you  find  a personalized look that you like, then put the
       _x_s_e_t_r_o_o_t command that produces  it  into	 your  X  startup
       file.   If  no options are specified, or if _-_d_e_f is speci-
       fied, the window is reset to its default state.	The  _-_d_e_f
       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.

OOPPTTIIOONNSS
       The various options are as follows:

       --hheellpp  Print a usage message and exit.

       --ddeeff   Reset unspecified attributes to the default values.
	      (Restores the background to the familiar gray  mesh
	      and the cursor to the hollow x shape.)

       --ccuurrssoorr _c_u_r_s_o_r_f_i_l_e _m_a_s_k_f_i_l_e
	      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 _b_i_t_m_a_p_(_1_)  pro-
	      gram.   You  probably  want the mask file to be all
	      black until you get used to the way masks work.

       --ccuurrssoorr__nnaammee _c_u_r_s_o_r_n_a_m_e
	      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).

       --bbiittmmaapp _f_i_l_e_n_a_m_e
	      Use the bitmap specified in the  file  to	 set  the
	      window pattern.  You can make your own bitmap files
	      (little pictures) using the _b_i_t_m_a_p_(_1_) program.  The
	      entire  background  will	be  made  up  of repeated



X Version 11		   Release 6.1				1





XSETROOT(1)					      XSETROOT(1)


	      "tiles" of the bitmap.

       --mmoodd _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.

       --ggrraayy  Make  the	 entire	 background gray.  (Easier on the
	      eyes.)

       --ggrreeyy  Make the entire background grey.

       --ffgg _c_o_l_o_r
	      Use ``color'' as the foreground color.   Foreground
	      and background colors are meaningful only in combi-
	      nation with -cursor, -bitmap, or -mod.

       --bbgg _c_o_l_o_r
	      Use ``color'' as the background color.

       --rrvv    This exchanges the foreground and	 background  col-
	      ors.   Normally  the  foreground color is black and
	      the background color is white.

       --ssoolliidd _c_o_l_o_r
	      This sets the background of the root window to  the
	      specified	 color.	  This	option	is only useful on
	      color servers.

       --nnaammee _s_t_r_i_n_g
	      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 iconi-
	      fied.   This  option  is	unused	since  you  can't
	      iconify the background.

       --ddiissppllaayy _d_i_s_p_l_a_y
	      Specifies the server to connect to; see _X_(_1_).

SSEEEE AALLSSOO
       X(1), xset(1), xrdb(1)

AAUUTTHHOORR
       Mark Lillibridge, MIT Project Athena











X Version 11		   Release 6.1				2


