XSETROOT(1)         X Version 11 (Release 4)          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),


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            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.


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       -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)

  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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