XSETROOT(1)        X Version 11 (Release 6.6)         XSETROOT(1)


     NAME
          xsetroot - root window parameter setting utility for X

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

     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.

     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(1) 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(1) 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 can't iconify the
               background.

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

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

     AUTHOR
          Mark Lillibridge, MIT Project Athena


     Page 2                                          (printed 7/20/06)