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Manual page for terminfo(4)

terminfo - terminal capability database

SYNOPSIS

/usr/share/lib/terminfo/?/*

DESCRIPTION

terminfo is a database produced by tic that describes the capabilities of devices such as terminals and printers. Devices are described in terminfo source files by specifying a set of capabilities, by quantifying certain aspects of the device, and by specifying character sequences that effect particular results. This database is often used by screen oriented applications such as vi and curses programs, as well as by some system commands such as ls and more. This usage allows them to work with a variety of devices without changes to the programs.

terminfo source files consist of one or more device descriptions. Each description consists of a header (beginning in column 1) and one or more lines that list the features for that particular device. Every line in a terminfo source file must end in a comma (,). Every line in a terminfo source file except the header must be indented with one or more white spaces (either spaces or tabs).

Entries in terminfo source files consist of a number of comma-separated fields. White space after each comma is ignored. Embedded commas must be escaped by using a backslash. The following example shows the format of a terminfo source file.

<!--               column 1 -->
<!-- .sp .5 -->
<!--                -->
<!--  .sp .5 -->
                   $alias sub 1$ | $alias sub 2$ | ... | $alias sub n$ | longname,
                   <white space> am, lines #24,
                   <white space> home=\\Eeh,

The first line, commonly referred to as the header line, must begin in column one and must contain at least two aliases separated by vertical bars. The last field in the header line must be the long name of the device and it may contain any string. Alias names must be unique in the terminfo database and they must conform to system file naming conventions (see tic.1m they cannot, for example, contain white space or slashes.

Every device must be assigned a name, such as "vt100". Device names (except the long name) should be chosen using the following conventions. The name should not contain hyphens because hyphens are reserved for use when adding suffixes that indicate special modes.

These special modes may be modes that the hardware can be in, or user preferences. To assign a special mode to a particular device, append a suffix consisting of a hyphen and an indicator of the mode to the device name. For example, the -w suffix means "wide mode"; when specified, it allows for a width of 132 columns instead of the standard 80 columns.
Therefore, if you want to use a "vt100" device set to wide mode, name the device "vt100-w." Use the following suffixes where possible.

      Suffix                 Meaning                  Example
      -w       Wide mode (more than 80 columns)       5410-w
      -am      With auto. margins (usually default)   vt100-am
      -nam     Without automatic margins              vt100-nam
      -n       Number of lines on the screen          2300-40
      -na      No arrow keys (leave them in local)    c100-na
      -np      Number of pages of memory              c100-4p
      -rv      Reverse video                          4415-rv

The terminfo reference manual page is organized in two sections:

DEVICE CAPABILITIES and PRINTER CAPABILITIES.

PART 1: DEVICE CAPABILITIES

Capabilities in terminfo are of three types: Boolean capabilities (which show that a device has or does not have a particular feature), numeric capabilities (which quantify particular features of a device), and string capabilities (which provide sequences that can be used to perform particular operations on devices).

In the following table, a Variable is the name by which a C programmer accesses a capability (at the terminfo level). A Capname is the short name for a capability specified in the terminfo source file. It is used by a person updating the source file and by the tput command. A Termcap Code is a two-letter sequence that corresponds to the termcap capability name. (Note that termcap is no longer supported.)

Capability names have no real length limit, but an informal limit of five characters has been adopted to keep them short. Whenever possible, capability names are chosen to be the same as or similar to those specified by the ANSI X3.64-1979 standard. Semantics are also intended to match those of the ANSI standard.

All string capabilities listed below may have padding specified, with the exception of those used for input. Input capabilities, listed under the Strings section in the following tables, have names beginning with key_. The #i symbol in the description field of the following tables refers to the ith parameter.

Booleans

                           Cap-    Termcap
Variable                   name    Code      Description
auto_left_margin           bw      bw        cub1 wraps from column 0 to
                                             last column
auto_right_margin          am      am        Terminal has automatic margins
back_color_erase           bce     be        Screen erased with background color
can_change                 ccc     cc        Terminal can re-define existing color
ceol_standout_glitch       xhp     xs        Standout not erased by overwriting (hp)
col_addr_glitch            xhpa    YA        Only positive motion for hpa/mhpa caps
cpi_changes_res            cpix    YF        Changing character pitch changes
                                             resolution
cr_cancels_micro_mode      crxm    YB        Using cr turns off micro mode
dest_tabs_magic_smso       xt      xt        Destructive tabs, magic smso char (t1061)
eat_newline_glitch         xenl    xn        Newline ignored after 80 columns
                                             (Concept)
erase_overstrike           eo      eo        Can erase overstrikes with a blank
generic_type               gn      gn        Generic line type (for example,
                                             dialup, switch)
get_mouse                  getm    Gm        Curses should get button events
hard_copy                  hc      hc        Hardcopy terminal
hard_cursor                chts    HC        Cursor is hard to see
has_meta_key               km      km        Has a meta key (shift, sets parity bit)
has_print_wheel            daisy   YC        Printer needs operator to change
                                             character set
has_status_line            hs      hs        Has extra "status line"
hue_lightness_saturation   hls     hl        Terminal uses only HLS color
                                             notation (Tektronix)
insert_null_glitch         in      in        Insert mode distinguishes nulls
lpi_changes_res            lpix    YG        Changing line pitch changes resolution
memory_above               da      da        Display may be retained above the screen
memory_below               db      db        Display may be retained below the screen
move_insert_mode           mir     mi        Safe to move while in insert mode
move_standout_mode         msgr    ms        Safe to move in standout modes
needs_xon_xoff             nxon    nx        Padding won't work, xon/xoff required
no_esc_ctlc                xsb     xb        Beehive (f1=escape, f2=ctrl C)
no_pad_char                npc     NP        Pad character doesn't exist
non_dest_scroll_region     ndscr   ND        Scrolling region is nondestructive
non_rev_rmcup              nrrmc   NR        smcup does not reverse rmcup
over_strike                os      os        Terminal overstrikes on hard-copy
                                             terminal
prtr_silent                mc5i    5i        Printer won't echo on screen
row_addr_glitch            xvpa    YD        Only positive motion for vpa/mvpa caps
semi_auto_right_margin     sam     YE        Printing in last column causes cr
status_line_esc_ok         eslok   es        Escape can be used on the status line
tilde_glitch               hz      hz        Hazeltine; can't print tilde (~)
transparent_underline      ul      ul        Underline character overstrikes
xon_xoff                   xon     xo        Terminal uses xon/xoff handshaking

Numbers

                       Cap-     Termcap
Variable               name     Code      Description
bit_image_entwining    bitwin   Yo        Number of passes for each bit-map row
bit_image_type         bitype   Yp        Type of bit image device
buffer_capacity        bufsz    Ya        Number of bytes buffered before printing
buttons                btns     BT        Number of buttons on the mouse
columns                cols     co        Number of columns in a line
dot_horz_spacing       spinh    Yc        Spacing of dots horizontally in dots per inch
dot_vert_spacing       spinv    Yb        Spacing of pins vertically in pins per inch
init_tabs              it       it        Tabs initially every # spaces
label_height           lh       lh        Number of rows in each label
label_width            lw       lw        Number of columns in each label
lines                  lines    li        Number of lines on a screen or a page
lines_of_memory        lm       lm        Lines of memory if > lines; 0 means varies
max_attributes         ma       ma        Maximum combined video attributes
                                          terminal can display
magic_cookie_glitch    xmc      sg        Number of blank characters left by
                                          smso or rmso
max_colors             colors   Co        Maximum number of colors on the screen
max_micro_address      maddr    Yd        Maximum value in micro_..._address
max_micro_jump         mjump    Ye        Maximum value in parm_..._micro
max_pairs              pairs    pa        Maximum number of color-pairs on the
                                          screen
maximum_windows        wnum     MW        Maximum number of definable windows
micro_char_size        mcs      Yf        Character step size when in micro mode
micro_line_size        mls      Yg        Line step size when in micro mode
no_color_video         ncv      NC        Video attributes that can't be used
                                          with colors
num_labels             nlab     Nl        Number of labels on screen (start at 1)
number_of_pins         npins    Yh        Number of pins in print-head
output_res_char        orc      Yi        Horizontal resolution in units per character
output_res_line        orl      Yj        Vertical resolution in units per line
output_res_horz_inch   orhi     Yk        Horizontal resolution in units per inch
output_res_vert_inch   orvi     Yl        Vertical resolution in units per inch
padding_baud_rate      pb       pb        Lowest baud rate where padding needed
print_rate             cps      Ym        Print rate in characters per second
virtual_terminal       vt       vt        Virtual terminal number (system)
wide_char_size         widcs    Yn        Character step size when in double
                                          wide mode
width_status_line      wsl      ws        Number of columns in status line

Strings

                                 Cap-      Termcap
Variable                         name      Code      Description
acs_chars                        acsc      ac        Graphic charset pairs aAbBcC
alt_scancode_esc                 scesa     S8        Alternate escape for scancode emulation
                                                     (default is for vt100)
back_tab                         cbt       bt        Back tab
bell                             bel       bl        Audible signal (bell)
bit_image_carriage_return        bicr      Yv        Move to beginning of same row (use
                                                     tparm)
bit_image_newline                binel     Zz        Move to next row of the bit image (use
                                                     tparm)
bit_image_repeat                 birep     Zy        Repeat bit-image cell #1 #2 times (use
                                                     tparm)
carriage_return                  cr        cr        Carriage return
change_char_pitch                cpi       ZA        Change number of characters per inch
change_line_pitch                lpi       ZB        Change number of lines per inch
change_res_horz                  chr       ZC        Change horizontal resolution
change_res_vert                  cvr       ZD        Change vertical resolution
change_scroll_region             csr       cs        Change to lines #1 through #2 (vt100)
char_padding                     rmp       rP        Like ip but when in replace mode
char_set_names                   csnm      Zy        List of character set names
clear_all_tabs                   tbc       ct        Clear all tab stops
clear_margins                    mgc       MC        Clear all margins (top, bottom,
                                                     and sides)
clear_screen                     clear     cl        Clear screen and home cursor
clr_bol                          el1       cb        Clear to beginning of line, inclusive
clr_eol                          el        ce        Clear to end of line
clr_eos                          ed        cd        Clear to end of display
code_set_init                    csin      ci        Init sequence for multiple codesets
color_names                      colornm   Yw        Give name for color #1
column_address                   hpa       ch        Horizontal position absolute
command_character                cmdch     CC        Terminal settable cmd character
                                                     in prototype
create_window                    cwin      CW        Define win #1 to go from #2,#3 to
                                                     #4,#5
cursor_address                   cup       cm        Move to row #1 col #2
cursor_down                      cud1      do        Down one line
cursor_home                      home      ho        Home cursor (if no cup)
cursor_invisible                 civis     vi        Make cursor invisible
cursor_left                      cub1      le        Move left one space.
cursor_mem_address               mrcup     CM        Memory relative cursor addressing
cursor_normal                    cnorm     ve        Make cursor appear normal
                                                     (undo vs/vi)
cursor_right                     cuf1      nd        Non-destructive space (cursor or
                                                     carriage right)
cursor_to_ll                     ll        ll        Last line, first column (if no cup)
cursor_up                        cuu1      up        Upline (cursor up)
cursor_visible                   cvvis     vs        Make cursor very visible
define_bit_image_region          defbi     Yx        Define rectangular bit-image region
                                                     (use tparm)
define_char                      defc      ZE        Define a character in a character set
delete_character                 dch1      dc        Delete character
delete_line                      dl1       dl        Delete line
device_type                      devt      dv        Indicate language/codeset support
dial_phone                       dial      DI        Dial phone number #1
dis_status_line                  dsl       ds        Disable status line
display_clock                    dclk      DK        Display time-of-day clock
display_pc_char                  dispc     S1        Display PC character
down_half_line                   hd        hd        Half-line down (forward 1/2 linefeed)
ena_acs                          enacs     eA        Enable alternate character set
end_bit_image_region             endbi     Yy        End a bit-image region (use tparm)
enter_alt_charset_mode           smacs     as        Start alternate character set
enter_am_mode                    smam      SA        Turn on automatic margins
enter_blink_mode                 blink     mb        Turn on blinking
enter_bold_mode                  bold      md        Turn on bold (extra bright) mode
enter_ca_mode                    smcup     ti        String to begin programs that use cup
enter_delete_mode                smdc      dm        Delete mode (enter)
enter_dim_mode                   dim       mh        Turn on half-bright mode
enter_doublewide_mode            swidm     ZF        Enable double wide printing
enter_draft_quality              sdrfq     ZG        Set draft quality print
<!--  enter_horizontal_hl_mode   ehhlm               Turn on horizontal highlight -->
                                                     mode
enter_insert_mode                smir      im        Insert mode (enter)
enter_italics_mode               sitm      ZH        Enable italics
<!--  enter_left_hl_mode         elhlm               Turn on left highlight mode -->
enter_leftward_mode              slm       ZI        Enable leftward carriage motion
<!--  enter_low_hl_mode          elohlm              Turn on low highlight mode -->
enter_micro_mode                 smicm     ZJ        Enable micro motion capabilities
enter_near_letter_quality        snlq      ZK        Set near-letter quality print
enter_normal_quality             snrmq     ZL        Set normal quality print
enter_pc_charset_mode            smpch     S2        Enter PC character display mode
enter_protected_mode             prot      mp        Turn on protected mode
enter_reverse_mode               rev       mr        Turn on reverse video mode
<!--  enter_right_hl_mode        erhlm               Turn on right highlight mode -->
enter_scancode_mode              smsc      S4        Enter PC scancode mode
enter_secure_mode                invis     mk        Turn on blank mode
                                                     (characters invisible)
enter_shadow_mode                sshm      ZM        Enable shadow printing
enter_standout_mode              smso      so        Begin standout mode
enter_subscript_mode             ssubm     ZN        Enable subscript printing
enter_superscript_mode           ssupm     ZO        Enable superscript printing
<!--  enter_top_hl_mode          ethlm               Turn on top highlight mode -->
enter_underline_mode             smul      us        Start underscore mode
enter_upward_mode                sum       ZP        Enable upward carriage motion
<!--  enter_vertical_hl_mode     evhlm               Turn on vertical hightlight  -->
                                                     mode
enter_xon_mode                   smxon     SX        Turn on xon/xoff handshaking
erase_chars                      ech       ec        Erase #1 characters
exit_alt_charset_mode            rmacs     ae        End alternate character set
exit_am_mode                     rmam      RA        Turn off automatic margins
exit_attribute_mode              sgr0      me        Turn off all attributes
exit_ca_mode                     rmcup     te        String to end programs that use cup
exit_delete_mode                 rmdc      ed        End delete mode
exit_doublewide_mode             rwidm     ZQ        Disable double wide printing
exit_insert_mode                 rmir      ei        End insert mode
exit_italics_mode                ritm      ZR        Disable italics
exit_leftward_mode               rlm       ZS        Enable rightward (normal)
                                                     carriage motion
exit_micro_mode                  rmicm     ZT        Disable micro motion capabilities
exit_pc_charset_mode             rmpch     S3        Disable PC character display mode
exit_scancode_mode               rmsc      S5        Disable PC scancode mode
exit_shadow_mode                 rshm      ZU        Disable shadow printing
exit_standout_mode               rmso      se        End standout mode
exit_subscript_mode              rsubm     ZV        Disable subscript printing
exit_superscript_mode            rsupm     ZW        Disable superscript printing
exit_underline_mode              rmul      ue        End underscore mode
exit_upward_mode                 rum       ZX        Enable downward (normal)
                                                     carriage motion
exit_xon_mode                    rmxon     RX        Turn off xon/xoff handshaking
fixed_pause                      pause     PA        Pause for 2-3 seconds
flash_hook                       hook      fh        Flash the switch hook
flash_screen                     flash     vb        Visible bell (may not move cursor)
form_feed                        ff        ff        Hardcopy terminal page eject
from_status_line                 fsl       fs        Return from status line
goto_window                      wingo     WG        Go to window #1
hangup                           hup       HU        Hang-up phone
init_1string                     is1       i1        Terminal or printer initialization string
init_2string                     is2       is        Terminal or printer initialization string
init_3string                     is3       i3        Terminal or printer initialization string
init_file                        if        if        Name of initialization file
init_prog                        iprog     iP        Path name of program for initialization
initialize_color                 initc     Ic        Initialize the definition of color
initialize_pair                  initp     Ip        Initialize color-pair
insert_character                 ich1      ic        Insert character
insert_line                      il1       al        Add new blank line
insert_padding                   ip        ip        Insert pad after character inserted

The ``key_'' strings are sent by specific keys. The ``key_'' descriptions include the macro, defined in <curses.h>, for the code returned by the curses routine getch when the key is pressed (see curs_getch.3x

                         Cap-       Termcap
Variable                 name       Code      Description
key_a1                   ka1        K1        KEY_A1, upper left of keypad
key_a3                   ka3        K3        KEY_A3, upper right of keypad
key_b2                   kb2        K2        KEY_B2, center of keypad
key_backspace            kbs        kb        KEY_BACKSPACE, sent by backspace
                                              key
key_beg                  kbeg       @1        KEY_BEG, sent by beg(inning) key
key_btab                 kcbt       kB        KEY_BTAB, sent by back-tab key
key_c1                   kc1        K4        KEY_C1, lower left of keypad
key_c3                   kc3        K5        KEY_C3, lower right of keypad
key_cancel               kcan       @2        KEY_CANCEL, sent by cancel key
key_catab                ktbc       ka        KEY_CATAB, sent by clear-all-tabs key
key_clear                kclr       kC        KEY_CLEAR, sent by clear-screen or
                                              erase key
key_close                kclo       @3        KEY_CLOSE, sent by close key
key_command              kcmd       @4        KEY_COMMAND, sent by cmd
                                              (command) key
key_copy                 kcpy       @5        KEY_COPY, sent by copy key
key_create               kcrt       @6        KEY_CREATE, sent by create key
key_ctab                 kctab      kt        KEY_CTAB, sent by clear-tab key
key_dc                   kdch1      kD        KEY_DC, sent by delete-character key
key_dl                   kdl1       kL        KEY_DL, sent by delete-line key
key_down                 kcud1      kd        KEY_DOWN, sent by terminal
                                              down-arrow key
key_eic                  krmir      kM        KEY_EIC, sent by rmir or smir in
                                              insert mode
key_end                  kend       @7        KEY_END, sent by end key
key_enter                kent       @8        KEY_ENTER, sent by enter/send key
key_eol                  kel        kE        KEY_EOL, sent by clear-to-end-of-line
                                              key
key_eos                  ked        kS        KEY_EOS, sent by clear-to-end-of-screen
                                              key
key_exit                 kext       @9        KEY_EXIT, sent by exit key
key_f0                   kf0        k0        KEY_F(0), sent by function key f0
key_f1                   kf1        k1        KEY_F(1), sent by function key f1
key_f2                   kf2        k2        KEY_F(2), sent by function key f2
key_f3                   kf3        k3        KEY_F(3), sent by function key f3
key_fB                   kf4        k4        KEY_F(4), sent by function key fB
key_f5                   kf5        k5        KEY_F(5), sent by function key f5
key_f6                   kf6        k6        KEY_F(6), sent by function key f6
key_f7                   kf7        k7        KEY_F(7), sent by function key f7
key_f8                   kf8        k8        KEY_F(8), sent by function key f8
key_f9                   kf9        k9        KEY_F(9), sent by function key f9
key_f10                  kf10       k;        KEY_F(10), sent by function key f10
key_f11                  kf11       F1        KEY_F(11), sent by function key f11
key_f12                  kf12       F2        KEY_F(12), sent by function key f12
key_f13                  kf13       F3        KEY_F(13), sent by function key f13
key_f14                  kf14       F4        KEY_F(14), sent by function key f14
key_f15                  kf15       F5        KEY_F(15), sent by function key f15
key_f16                  kf16       F6        KEY_F(16), sent by function key f16
key_f17                  kf17       F7        KEY_F(17), sent by function key f17
key_f18                  kf18       F8        KEY_F(18), sent by function key f18
key_f19                  kf19       F9        KEY_F(19), sent by function key f19
key_f20                  kf20       FA        KEY_F(20), sent by function key f20
key_f21                  kf21       FB        KEY_F(21), sent by function key f21
key_f22                  kf22       FC        KEY_F(22), sent by function key f22
key_f23                  kf23       FD        KEY_F(23), sent by function key f23
key_f24                  kf24       FE        KEY_F(24), sent by function key f24
key_f25                  kf25       FF        KEY_F(25), sent by function key f25
key_f26                  kf26       FG        KEY_F(26), sent by function key f26
key_f27                  kf27       FH        KEY_F(27), sent by function key f27
key_f28                  kf28       FI        KEY_F(28), sent by function key f28
key_f29                  kf29       FJ        KEY_F(29), sent by function key f29
key_f30                  kf30       FK        KEY_F(30), sent by function key f30
key_f31                  kf31       FL        KEY_F(31), sent by function key f31
key_f32                  kf32       FM        KEY_F(32), sent by function key f32
key_f33                  kf33       FN        KEY_F(13), sent by function key f13
key_f34                  kf34       FO        KEY_F(34), sent by function key f34
key_f35                  kf35       FP        KEY_F(35), sent by function key f35
key_f36                  kf36       FQ        KEY_F(36), sent by function key f36
key_f37                  kf37       FR        KEY_F(37), sent by function key f37
key_f38                  kf38       FS        KEY_F(38), sent by function key f38
key_f39                  kf39       FT        KEY_F(39), sent by function key f39
key_fB0                  kf40       FU        KEY_F(40), sent by function key fB0
key_fB1                  kf41       FV        KEY_F(41), sent by function key fB1
key_fB2                  kf42       FW        KEY_F(42), sent by function key fB2
key_fB3                  kf43       FX        KEY_F(43), sent by function key fB3
key_fB4                  kf44       FY        KEY_F(44), sent by function key fB4
key_fB5                  kf45       FZ        KEY_F(45), sent by function key fB5
key_fB6                  kf46       Fa        KEY_F(46), sent by function key fB6
key_fB7                  kf47       Fb        KEY_F(47), sent by function key fB7
key_fB8                  kf48       Fc        KEY_F(48), sent by function key fB8
key_fB9                  kf49       Fd        KEY_F(49), sent by function key fB9
key_f50                  kf50       Fe        KEY_F(50), sent by function key f50
key_f51                  kf51       Ff        KEY_F(51), sent by function key f51
key_f52                  kf52       Fg        KEY_F(52), sent by function key f52
key_f53                  kf53       Fh        KEY_F(53), sent by function key f53
key_f54                  kf54       Fi        KEY_F(54), sent by function key f54
key_f55                  kf55       Fj        KEY_F(55), sent by function key f55
key_f56                  kf56       Fk        KEY_F(56), sent by function key f56
key_f57                  kf57       Fl        KEY_F(57), sent by function key f57
key_f58                  kf58       Fm        KEY_F(58), sent by function key f58
key_f59                  kf59       Fn        KEY_F(59), sent by function key f59
key_f60                  kf60       Fo        KEY_F(60), sent by function key f60
key_f61                  kf61       Fp        KEY_F(61), sent by function key f61
key_f62                  kf62       Fq        KEY_F(62), sent by function key f62
key_f63                  kf63       Fr        KEY_F(63), sent by function key f63
key_find                 kfnd       @0        KEY_FIND, sent by find key
key_help                 khlp       %1        KEY_HELP, sent by help key
key_home                 khome      kh        KEY_HOME, sent by home key
key_ic                   kich1      kI        KEY_IC, sent by ins-char/enter
                                              ins-mode key
key_il                   kil1       kA        KEY_IL, sent by insert-line key
key_left                 kcub1      kl        KEY_LEFT, sent by terminal left-arrow
                                              key
key_ll                   kll        kH        KEY_LL, sent by home-down key
key_mark                 kmrk       %2        KEY_MARK, sent by mark key
key_message              kmsg       %3        KEY_MESSAGE, sent by message key
key_mouse                kmous      Km        0631, Mouse event has occured
key_move                 kmov       %4        KEY_MOVE, sent by move key
key_next                 knxt       %5        KEY_NEXT, sent by next-object key
key_npage                knp        kN        KEY_NPAGE, sent by next-page key
key_open                 kopn       %6        KEY_OPEN, sent by open key
key_options              kopt       %7        KEY_OPTIONS, sent by options key
key_ppage                kpp        kP        KEY_PPAGE, sent by previous-page key
key_previous             kprv       %8        KEY_PREVIOUS, sent by previous-object
                                              key
key_print                kprt       %9        KEY_PRINT, sent by print or copy key
key_redo                 krdo       %0        KEY_REDO, sent by redo key
key_reference            kref       &1        KEY_REFERENCE, sent by reference key
key_refresh              krfr       &2        KEY_REFRESH, sent by refresh key
key_replace              krpl       &3        KEY_REPLACE, sent by replace key
key_restart              krst       &4        KEY_RESTART, sent by restart key
key_resume               kres       &5        KEY_RESUME, sent by resume key
key_right                kcuf1      kr        KEY_RIGHT, sent by terminal
                                              right-arrow key
key_save                 ksav       &6        KEY_SAVE, sent by save key
key_sbeg                 kBEG       &9        KEY_SBEG, sent by shifted beginning key
key_scancel              kCAN       &0        KEY_SCANCEL, sent by shifted
                                              cancel key
key_scommand             kCMD       *1        KEY_SCOMMAND, sent by shifted
                                              command key
key_scopy                kCPY       *2        KEY_SCOPY, sent by shifted copy key
key_screate              kCRT       *3        KEY_SCREATE, sent by shifted
                                              create key
key_sdc                  kDC        *4        KEY_SDC, sent by shifted delete-char
                                              key
key_sdl                  kDL        *5        KEY_SDL, sent by shifted delete-line
                                              key
key_select               kslt       *6        KEY_SELECT, sent by select key
key_send                 kEND       *7        KEY_SEND, sent by shifted end key
key_seol                 kEOL       *8        KEY_SEOL, sent by shifted clear-line key
key_sexit                kEXT       *9        KEY_SEXIT, sent by shifted exit key
key_sf                   kind       kF        KEY_SF, sent by scroll-forward/down
                                              key
key_sfind                kFND       *0        KEY_SFIND, sent by shifted find key
key_shelp                kHLP       #1        KEY_SHELP, sent by shifted help key
key_shome                kHOM       #2        KEY_SHOME, sent by shifted home key
key_sic                  kIC        #3        KEY_SIC, sent by shifted input key
key_sleft                kLFT       #4        KEY_SLEFT, sent by shifted left-arrow
                                              key
key_smessage             kMSG       %a        KEY_SMESSAGE, sent by shifted
                                              message key
key_smove                kMOV       %b        KEY_SMOVE, sent by shifted move key
key_snext                kNXT       %c        KEY_SNEXT, sent by shifted next key
key_soptions             kOPT       %d        KEY_SOPTIONS, sent by shifted
                                              options key
key_sprevious            kPRV       %e        KEY_SPREVIOUS, sent by shifted prev
                                              key
key_sprint               kPRT       %f        KEY_SPRINT, sent by shifted print key
key_sr                   kri        kR        KEY_SR, sent by scroll-backward/up
                                              key
key_sredo                kRDO       %g        KEY_SREDO, sent by shifted redo key
key_sreplace             kRPL       %h        KEY_SREPLACE, sent by shifted replace
                                              key
key_sright               kRIT       %i        KEY_SRIGHT, sent by shifted
                                              right-arrow key
key_srsume               kRES       %j        KEY_SRSUME, sent by shifted resume
                                              key
key_ssave                kSAV       !1        KEY_SSAVE, sent by shifted save key
key_ssuspend             kSPD       !2        KEY_SSUSPEND, sent by shifted
                                              suspend key
key_stab                 khts       kT        KEY_STAB, sent by set-tab key
key_sundo                kUND       !3        KEY_SUNDO, sent by shifted undo key
key_suspend              kspd       &7        KEY_SUSPEND, sent by
                                              suspend key
key_undo                 kund       &8        KEY_UNDO, sent by undo key
key_up                   kcuu1      ku        KEY_UP, sent by terminal up-arrow key
keypad_local             rmkx       ke        Out of ``keypad-transmit'' mode
keypad_xmit              smkx       ks        Put terminal in ``keypad-transmit'' mode
lab_f0                   lf0        l0        Labels on function key f0 if not f0
lab_f1                   lf1        l1        Labels on function key f1 if not f1
lab_f2                   lf2        l2        Labels on function key f2 if not f2
lab_f3                   lf3        l3        Labels on function key f3 if not f3
lab_fB                   lfB        l4        Labels on function key fB if not fB
lab_f5                   lf5        l5        Labels on function key f5 if not f5
lab_f6                   lf6        l6        Labels on function key f6 if not f6
lab_f7                   lf7        l7        Labels on function key f7 if not f7
lab_f8                   lf8        l8        Labels on function key f8 if not f8
lab_f9                   lf9        l9        Labels on function key f9 if not f9
lab_f10                  lf10       la        Labels on function key f10 if not f10
label_format             fln        Lf        Label format
label_off                rmln       LF        Turn off soft labels
label_on                 smln       LO        Turn on soft labels
meta_off                 rmm        mo        Turn off "meta mode"
meta_on                  smm        mm        Turn on "meta mode" (8th bit)
micro_column_address     mhpa       ZY        Like column_address for micro
                                              adjustment
micro_down               mcud1      ZZ        Like cursor_down for micro adjustment
micro_left               mcub1      Za        Like cursor_left for micro adjustment
micro_right              mcuf1      Zb        Like cursor_right for micro
                                              adjustment
micro_row_address        mvpa       Zc        Like row_address for micro adjustment
micro_up                 mcuu1      Zd        Like cursor_up for micro adjustment
mouse_info               minfo      Mi        Mouse status information
newline                  nel        nw        Newline (behaves like cr followed
                                              by lf)
order_of_pins            porder     Ze        Matches software bits to print-head pins
orig_colors              oc         oc        Set all color(-pair)s to the original ones
orig_pair                op         op        Set default color-pair to the original one
pad_char                 pad        pc        Pad character (rather than null)
parm_dch                 dch        DC        Delete #1 chars
parm_delete_line         dl         DL        Delete #1 lines
parm_down_cursor         cud        DO        Move down #1 lines.
parm_down_micro          mcud       Zf        Like parm_down_cursor for micro
                                              adjust.
parm_ich                 ich        IC        Insert #1 blank chars
parm_index               indn       SF        Scroll forward #1 lines.
parm_insert_line         il         AL        Add #1 new blank lines
parm_left_cursor         cub        LE        Move cursor left #1 spaces
parm_left_micro          mcub       Zg        Like parm_left_cursor for micro
                                              adjust.
parm_right_cursor        cuf        RI        Move right #1 spaces.
parm_right_micro         mcuf       Zh        Like parm_right_cursor for micro
                                              adjust.
parm_rindex              rin        SR        Scroll backward #1 lines.
parm_up_cursor           cuu        UP        Move cursor up #1 lines.
parm_up_micro            mcuu       Zi        Like parm_up_cursor for micro adjust.
pc_term_options          pctrm      S6        PC terminal options
pkey_key                 pfkey      pk        Prog funct key #1 to type string #2
pkey_local               pfloc      pl        Prog funct key #1 to execute string #2
pkey_plab                pfxl       xl        Prog key #1 to xmit string #2 and show
                                              string #3
pkey_xmit                pfx        px        Prog funct key #1 to xmit string #2
plab_norm                pln        pn        Prog label #1 to show string #2
print_screen             mc0        ps        Print contents of the screen
prtr_non                 mc5p       pO        Turn on the printer for #1 bytes
prtr_off                 mc4        pf        Turn off the printer
prtr_on                  mc5        po        Turn on the printer
pulse                    pulse      PU        Select pulse dialing
quick_dial               qdial      QD        Dial phone number #1, without
                                              progress detection
remove_clock             rmclk      RC        Remove time-of-day clock
repeat_char              rep        rp        Repeat char #1 #2 times
req_for_input            rfi        RF        Send next input char (for ptys)
req_mouse_pos            reqmp      RQ        Request mouse position report
reset_1string            rs1        r1        Reset terminal completely to sane modes
reset_2string            rs2        r2        Reset terminal completely to sane modes
reset_3string            rs3        r3        Reset terminal completely to sane modes
reset_file               rf         rf        Name of file containing reset string
restore_cursor           rc         rc        Restore cursor to position of last sc
row_address              vpa        cv        Vertical position absolute
save_cursor              sc         sc        Save cursor position
scancode_escape          scesc      S7        Escape for scancode emulation
scroll_forward           ind        sf        Scroll text up
scroll_reverse           ri         sr        Scroll text down
select_char_set          scs        Zj        Select character set
set0_des_seq             s0ds       s0        Shift into codeset 0 (EUC set 0, ASCII)
set1_des_seq             s1ds       s1        Shift into codeset 1
set2_des_seq             s2ds       s2        Shift into codeset 2
set3_des_seq             s3ds       s3        Shift into codeset 3
<!--  set_a_attributes   sgr1                 Define second set of video  -->
                                              attributes #1-#6
set_a_background         setab      AB        Set background color using ANSI escape
set_a_foreground         setaf      AF        Set foreground color using ANSI escape
set_attributes           sgr        sa        Define the video attributes #1-#9
set_background           setb       Sb        Set current background color
set_bottom_margin        smgb       Zk        Set bottom margin at current line
set_bottom_margin_parm   smgbp      Zl        Set bottom margin at line #1 or #2
                                              lines from bottom
set_clock                sclk       SC        Set time-of-day clock
set_color_band           setcolor   Yz        Change to ribbon color #1
set_color_pair           scp        sp        Set current color-pair
set_foreground           setf       Sf        Set current foreground color1
set_left_margin          smgl       ML        Set left margin at current line
set_left_margin_parm     smglp      Zm        Set left (right) margin at column #1 (#2)
set_lr_margin            smglr      ML        Sets both left and right margins
set_page_length          slines     YZ        Set page length to #1 lines (use tparm)
<!--  set_pglen_inch     slength    YI        Set page length to #1 hundredth -->
                                              of an inch
set_right_margin         smgr       MR        Set right margin at current column
set_right_margin_parm    smgrp      Zn        Set right margin at column #1
set_tab                  hts        st        Set a tab in all rows, current column
set_tb_margin            smgtb      MT        Sets both top and bottom margins
set_top_margin           smgt       Zo        Set top margin at current line
set_top_margin_parm      smgtp      Zp        Set top (bottom) margin at line #1 (#2)
set_window               wind       wi        Current window is lines #1-#2 cols #3-#4
start_bit_image          sbim       Zq        Start printing bit image graphics
start_char_set_def       scsd       Zr        Start definition of a character set
stop_bit_image           rbim       Zs        End printing bit image graphics
stop_char_set_def        rcsd       Zt        End definition of a character set
subscript_characters     subcs      Zu        List of ``subscript-able'' characters
superscript_characters   supcs      Zv        List of ``superscript-able'' characters
tab                      ht         ta        Tab to next 8-space hardware tab stop
these_cause_cr           docr       Zw        Printing any of these chars causes cr
to_status_line           tsl        ts        Go to status line, col #1
tone                     tone       TO        Select touch tone dialing
user0                    u0         u0        User string 0
user1                    u1         u1        User string 1
user2                    u2         u2        User string 2
user3                    u3         u3        User string 3
user4                    u4         u4        User string 4
user5                    u5         u5        User string 5
user6                    u6         u6        User string 6
user7                    u7         u7        User string 7
user8                    u8         u8        User string 8
user9                    u9         u9        User string 9
underline_char           uc         uc        Underscore one char and move past it
up_half_line             hu         hu        Half-line up (reverse 1/2 linefeed)
wait_tone                wait       WA        Wait for dial tone
xoff_character           xoffc      XF        X-off character
xon_character            xonc       XN        X-on character
zero_motion              zerom      Zx        No motion for the subsequent character

Sample Entry

The following entry, which describes the AT&T 610 terminal, is among the more complex entries in the terminfo file as of this writing.

610|610bct|ATT610|att610|AT&T610;80column;98key keyboard
	am, eslok, hs, mir, msgr, xenl, xon,
	cols#80, it#8, lh#2, lines#24, lw#8, nlab#8, wsl#80,
	acsc=``aaffggjjkkllmmnnooppqqrrssttuuvvwwxxyyzz{{||}}~~,
	bel=^G, blink=\E[5m, bold=\E[1m, cbt=\E[Z,
	civis=\E[?25l, clear=\E[H\E[J, cnorm=\E[?25h\E[?12l,
	cr=\r, csr=\E[%i%p1%d;%p2%dr, cub=\E[%p1%dD, cub1=\b,
	cud=\E[%p1%dB, cud1=\E[B, cuf=\E[%p1%dC, cuf1=\E[C,
	cup=\E[%i%p1%d;%p2%dH, cuu=\E[%p1%dA, cuu1=\E[A,
	cvvis=\E[?12;25h, dch=\E[%p1%dP, dch1=\E[P, dim=\E[2m,
	dl=\E[%p1%dM, dl1=\E[M, ed=\E[J, el=\E[K, el1=\E[1K,
	flash=\E[?5h$<200>\E[?5l, fsl=\E8, home=\E[H, ht=\t,
	ich=\E[%p1%d@, il=\E[%p1%dL, il1=\E[L, ind=\ED, .ind=\ED$<9>,
	invis=\E[8m,
	is1=\E[8;0 | \E[?3;4;5;13;15l\E[13;20l\E[?7h\E[12h\E(B\E)0,
	is2=\E[0m^O, is3=\E(B\E)0, kLFT=\E[\s@, kRIT=\E[\sA,
	kbs=^H, kcbt=\E[Z, kclr=\E[2J, kcub1=\E[D, kcud1=\E[B,
	kcuf1=\E[C, kcuu1=\E[A, kf1=\EOc, kf10=\ENp,
	kf11=\ENq, kf12=\ENr, kf13=\ENs, kf14=\ENt, kf2=\EOd,
	kf3=\EOe, kf4=\EOf, kf5=\EOg, kf6=\EOh, kf7=\EOi,
	kf8=\EOj, kf9=\ENo, khome=\E[H, kind=\E[S, kri=\E[T,
	ll=\E[24H, mc4=\E[?4i, mc5=\E[?5i, nel=\EE,
	pfxl=\E[%p1%d;%p2%l%02dq%?%p1%{9}%<%t\s\s\sF%p1%1d\s\s\s\s\s
\s\s\s\s\s\s%;%p2%s,
	pln=\E[%p1%d;0;0;0q%p2%:-16.16s, rc=\E8, rev=\E[7m,
	ri=\EM, rmacs=^O, rmir=\E[4l, rmln=\E[2p, rmso=\E[m,
	rmul=\E[m, rs2=\Ec\E[?3l, sc=\E7,
	sgr=\E[0%?%p6%t;1%;%?%p5%t;2%;%?%p2%t;4%;%?%p4%t;5%;
%?%p3%p1% | %t;7%;%?%p7%t;8%;m%?%p9%t^N%e^O%;,
	sgr0=\E[m^O, smacs=^N, smir=\E[4h, smln=\E[p,
	smso=\E[7m, smul=\E[4m, tsl=\E7\E[25;%i%p1%dx,

Types of Capabilities in the Sample Entry

The sample entry shows the formats for the three types of terminfo capabilities listed: Boolean, numeric, and string. All capabilities specified in the terminfo source file must be followed by commas, including the last capability in the source file. In terminfo source files, capabilities are referenced by their capability names (as shown in the previous tables).

Boolean capabilities are specified simply by their comma separated cap names.

Numeric capabilities are followed by the character `#' and then a positive integer value. Thus, in the sample, cols (which shows the number of columns available on a device) is assigned the value 80 for the AT&T 610. (Values for numeric capabilities may be specified in decimal, octal, or hexadecimal, using normal C programming language conventions.)

Finally, string-valued capabilities such as el (clear to end of line sequence) are listed by a two- to five-character capname, an `=', and a string ended by the next occurrence of a comma. A delay in milliseconds may appear anywhere in such a capability, preceded by $ and enclosed in angle brackets, as in el=\EK$<3>. Padding characters are supplied by tput. The delay can be any of the following: a number, a number followed by an asterisk, such as 5*, a number followed by a slash, such as 5/, or a number followed by both, such as 5*/. A `*' shows that the padding required is proportional to the number of lines affected by the operation, and the amount given is the per-affected-unit padding required. (In the case of insert characters, the factor is still the number of lines affected. This is always 1 unless the device has in and the software uses it.) When a `*' is specified, it is sometimes useful to give a delay of the form 3.5 to specify a delay per unit to tenths of milliseconds. (Only one decimal place is allowed.)

A `/' indicates that the padding is mandatory. If a device has xon defined, the padding information is advisory and will only be used for cost estimates or when the device is in raw mode. Mandatory padding will be transmitted regardless of the setting of xon. If padding (whether advisory or mandatory) is specified for bel or flash, however, it will always be used, regardless of whether xon is specified.

terminfo offers notation for encoding special characters. Both \E and \e map to an ESCAPE character, ^x maps to a control x for any appropriate x, and the sequences \n, \l, \r, \t, \b, \f, and \s give a newline, linefeed, return, tab, backspace, formfeed, and space, respectively. Other escapes include: \^ for caret (^); \\ for backslash (\); \, for comma (,); \: for colon (:); and \0 for null. (\0 will actually produce \200, which does not terminate a string but behaves as a null character on most devices, providing CS7 is specified. (See stty.1 Finally, characters may be given as three octal digits after a backslash (for example, \123).

Sometimes individual capabilities must be commented out. To do this, put a period before the capability name. For example, see the second ind in the example above. Note that capabilities are defined in a left-to-right order and, therefore, a prior definition will override a later definition.

Preparing Descriptions

The most effective way to prepare a device description is by imitating the description of a similar device in terminfo and building up a description gradually, using partial descriptions with vi to check that they are correct. Be aware that a very unusual device may expose deficiencies in the ability of the terminfo file to describe it or the inability of vi to work with that device. To test a new device description, set the environment variable TERMINFO to the pathname of a directory containing the compiled description you are working on and programs will look there rather than in /usr/share/lib/terminfo. To get the padding for insert-line correct (if the device manufacturer did not document it) a severe test is to comment out xon, edit a large file at 9600 baud with vi, delete 16 or so lines from the middle of the screen, and then press the u key several times quickly. If the display is corrupted, more padding is usually needed. A similar test can be used for insert-character.

Section 1-1: Basic Capabilities

The number of columns on each line for the device is given by the cols numeric capability. If the device has a screen, then the number of lines on the screen is given by the lines capability. If the device wraps around to the beginning of the next line when it reaches the right margin, then it should have the am capability. If the terminal can clear its screen, leaving the cursor in the home position, then this is given by the clear string capability. If the terminal overstrikes (rather than clearing a position when a character is struck over) then it should have the os capability. If the device is a printing terminal, with no soft copy unit, specify both hc and os. If there is a way to move the cursor to the left edge of the current row, specify this as cr.
(Normally this will be carriage return, control M.) If there is a way to produce an audible signal (such as a bell or a beep), specify it as bel. If, like most devices, the device uses the xon-xoff flow-control protocol, specify xon.

If there is a way to move the cursor one position to the left (such as backspace), that capability should be given as cub1. Similarly, sequences to move to the right, up, and down should be given as cuf1, cuu1, and cud1, respectively. These local cursor motions must not alter the text they pass over; for example, you would not normally use ``cuf1=\s'' because the space would erase the character moved over.

A very important point here is that the local cursor motions encoded in terminfo are undefined at the left and top edges of a screen terminal. Programs should never attempt to backspace around the left edge, unless bw is specified, and should never attempt to go up locally off the top. To scroll text up, a program goes to the bottom left corner of the screen and sends the ind (index) string.

To scroll text down, a program goes to the top left corner of the screen and sends the ri (reverse index) string. The strings ind and ri are undefined when not on their respective corners of the screen.

Parameterized versions of the scrolling sequences are indn and rin. These versions have the same semantics as ind and ri, except that they take one parameter and scroll the number of lines specified by that parameter. They are also undefined except at the appropriate edge of the screen.

The am capability tells whether the cursor sticks at the right edge of the screen when text is output, but this does not necessarily apply to a cuf1 from the last column. Backward motion from the left edge of the screen is possible only when bw is specified. In this case, cub1 will move to the right edge of the previous row. If bw is not given, the effect is undefined. This is useful for drawing a box around the edge of the screen, for example. If the device has switch selectable automatic margins, am should be specified in the terminfo source file. In this case, initialization strings should turn on this option, if possible. If the device has a command that moves to the first column of the next line, that command can be given as nel (newline). It does not matter if the command clears the remainder of the current line, so if the device has no cr and lf it may still be possible to craft a working nel out of one or both of them.

These capabilities suffice to describe hardcopy and screen terminals. Thus the AT&T 5320 hardcopy terminal is described as follows:

   5320|att5320|AT&T 5320 hardcopy terminal,
	  am, hc, os,
	  cols#132,
	  bel=^G, cr=\r, cub1=\b, cnd1=\n,
	  dch1=\E[P, dl1=\E[M,
	  ind=\n,

while the Lear Siegler ADM-3 is described as

   adm3|lsi adm3,
   am, bel=^G, clear=^Z, cols#80, cr=^M, cub1=^H,
   cud1=^J, ind=^J, lines#24,

Section 1-2: Parameterized Strings

Cursor addressing and other strings requiring parameters are described by a parameterized string capability, with printf-like escapes (%x) in it. For example, to address the cursor, the cup capability is given, using two parameters: the row and column to address to. (Rows and columns are numbered from zero and refer to the physical screen visible to the user, not to any unseen memory.) If the terminal has memory relative cursor addressing, that can be indicated by mrcup.

The parameter mechanism uses a stack and special % codes to manipulate the stack in the manner of Reverse Polish Notation (postfix). Typically a sequence will push one of the parameters onto the stack and then print it in some format. Often more complex operations are necessary. Operations are in postfix form with the operands in the usual order. That is, to subtract 5 from the first parameter, one would use %p1%{5}%-.

The % encodings have the following meanings:

%%
outputs `%'
%[[:]flags][width[.precision]][doxXs]
as in printf, flags are [-+#] and space
%c
print pop gives %c
%p[1-9]
push ith parm
%P[a-z]
set dynamic variable [a-z] to pop
%g[a-z]
get dynamic variable [a-z] and push it
%P[A-Z]
set static variable [a-z] to pop
%g[A-Z]
get static variable [a-z] and push it
%'c'
push char constant c
%{nn}
push decimal constant nn
%l
push strlen(pop)
%+ %- %* %/ %m
arithmetic (%m is mod): push(pop $integer sub 2$ op pop $integer sub 1$)
%& %| %^
bit operations: push(pop $integer sub 2$ op pop $integer sub 1$)
%= %> %<
logical operations: push(pop $integer sub 2$ op pop $integer sub 1$)
%A %O
logical operations: and, or
%! %~
unary operations: push(op pop)
%i
(for ANSI terminals) add 1 to first parm, if one parm present, or first two parms, if more than one parm present
%? expr %t thenpart %e elsepart %;
if-then-else, %e elsepart is optional; else-if's are possible ala Algol 68: %? c %t b %e c %t b %e c %t b %e c %t b %e b%;
ci are conditions, bi are bodies.

If the ``-'' flag is used with ``%[doxXs]'', then a colon (:) must be placed between the ``%'' and the ``-'' to differentiate the flag from the binary ``%-'' operator, for example ``%:-16.16s''.

Consider the Hewlett-Packard 2645, which, to get to row 3 and column 12, needs to be sent \E&a12c03Y padded for 6 milliseconds. Note that the order of the rows and columns is inverted here, and that the row and column are zero-padded as two digits. Thus its cup capability is:
cup=\E&a%p2%2.2dc%p1%2.2dY$<6>

The Micro-Term ACT-IV needs the current row and column sent preceded by a ^T, with the row and column simply encoded in binary, ``cup=^T%p1%c%p2%c''. Devices that use ``%c'' need to be able to backspace the cursor (cub1), and to move the cursor up one line on the screen (cuu1). This is necessary because it is not always safe to transmit \n, ^D, and \r, as the system may change or discard them. (The library routines dealing with terminfo set tty modes so that tabs are never expanded, so \t is safe to send. This turns out to be essential for the Ann Arbor 4080.)

A final example is the LSI ADM-3a, which uses row and column offset by a blank character, thus ``cup=\E=%p1%'\s'%+%c%p2%'\s'%+%c''. After sending ``\E='', this pushes the first parameter, pushes the ASCII value for a space (32), adds them (pushing the sum on the stack in place of the two previous values), and outputs that value as a character. Then the same is done for the second parameter. More complex arithmetic is possible using the stack.

Section 1-3: Cursor Motions

If the terminal has a fast way to home the cursor (to very upper left corner of screen) then this can be given as home; similarly a fast way of getting to the lower left-hand corner can be given as ll; this may involve going up with cuu1 from the home position, but a program should never do this itself (unless ll does) because it can make no assumption about the effect of moving up from the home position. Note that the home position is the same as addressing to (0,0): to the top left corner of the screen, not of memory.
(Thus, the \EH sequence on Hewlett-Packard terminals cannot be used for home without losing some of the other features on the terminal.)

If the device has row or column absolute-cursor addressing, these can be given as single parameter capabilities hpa (horizontal position absolute) and vpa (vertical position absolute). Sometimes these are shorter than the more general two-parameter sequence (as with the Hewlett-Packard 2645) and can be used in preference to cup. If there are parameterized local motions (for example, move n spaces to the right) these can be given as cud, cub, cuf, and cuu with a single parameter indicating how many spaces to move. These are primarily useful if the device does not have cup, such as the Tektronix 4025.

If the device needs to be in a special mode when running a program that uses these capabilities, the codes to enter and exit this mode can be given as smcup and rmcup. This arises, for example, from terminals, such as the Concept, with more than one page of memory. If the device has only memory relative cursor addressing and not screen relative cursor addressing, a one screen-sized window must be fixed into the device for cursor addressing to work properly. This is also used for the Tektronix 4025, where smcup sets the command character to be the one used by terminfo. If the smcup sequence will not restore the screen after an rmcup sequence is output (to the state prior to outputting rmcup), specify nrrmc.

Section 1-4: Area Clears

If the terminal can clear from the current position to the end of the line, leaving the cursor where it is, this should be given as el. If the terminal can clear from the beginning of the line to the current position inclusive, leaving the cursor where it is, this should be given as el1. If the terminal can clear from the current position to the end of the display, then this should be given as ed. ed is only defined from the first column of a line. (Thus, it can be simulated by a request to delete a large number of lines, if a true ed is not available.)

Section 1-5: Insert/Delete Line

If the terminal can open a new blank line before the line where the cursor is, this should be given as il1; this is done only from the first position of a line. The cursor must then appear on the newly blank line. If the terminal can delete the line which the cursor is on, then this should be given as dl1; this is done only from the first position on the line to be deleted. Versions of il1 and dl1 which take a single parameter and insert or delete that many lines can be given as il and dl.

If the terminal has a settable destructive scrolling region (like the VT100) the command to set this can be described with the csr capability, which takes two parameters: the top and bottom lines of the scrolling region. The cursor position is, alas, undefined after using this command. It is possible to get the effect of insert or delete line using this command -- the sc and rc (save and restore cursor) commands are also useful. Inserting lines at the top or bottom of the screen can also be done using ri or ind on many terminals without a true insert/delete line, and is often faster even on terminals with those features.

To determine whether a terminal has destructive scrolling regions or non-destructive scrolling regions, create a scrolling region in the middle of the screen, place data on the bottom line of the scrolling region, move the cursor to the top line of the scrolling region, and do a reverse index (ri) followed by a delete line (dl1) or index (ind). If the data that was originally on the bottom line of the scrolling region was restored into the scrolling region by the dl1 or ind, then the terminal has non-destructive scrolling regions. Otherwise, it has destructive scrolling regions. Do not specify csr if the terminal has non-destructive scrolling regions, unless ind, ri, indn, rin, dl, and dl1 all simulate destructive scrolling.

If the terminal has the ability to define a window as part of memory, which all commands affect, it should be given as the parameterized string wind. The four parameters are the starting and ending lines in memory and the starting and ending columns in memory, in that order.

If the terminal can retain display memory above, then the da capability should be given; if display memory can be retained below, then db should be given. These indicate that deleting a line or scrolling a full screen may bring non-blank lines up from below or that scrolling back with ri may bring down non-blank lines.

Section 1-6: Insert/Delete Character

There are two basic kinds of intelligent terminals with respect to insert/delete character operations which can be described using terminfo. The most common insert/delete character operations affect only the characters on the current line and shift characters off the end of the line rigidly. Other terminals, such as the Concept 100 and the Perkin Elmer Owl, make a distinction between typed and untyped blanks on the screen, shifting upon an insert or delete only to an untyped blank on the screen which is either eliminated, or expanded to two untyped blanks. You can determine the kind of terminal you have by clearing the screen and then typing text separated by cursor motions. Type ``abc def'' using local cursor motions (not spaces) between the abc and the def. Then position the cursor before the abc and put the terminal in insert mode. If typing characters causes the rest of the line to shift rigidly and characters to fall off the end, then your terminal does not distinguish between blanks and untyped positions. If the abc shifts over to the def which then move together around the end of the current line and onto the next as you insert, you have the second type of terminal, and should give the capability in, which stands for ``insert null.'' While these are two logically separate attributes (one line versus multiline insert mode, and special treatment of untyped spaces) we have seen no terminals whose insert mode cannot be described with the single attribute.

terminfo can describe both terminals that have an insert mode and terminals which send a simple sequence to open a blank position on the current line. Give as smir the sequence to get into insert mode. Give as rmir the sequence to leave insert mode. Now give as ich1 any sequence needed to be sent just before sending the character to be inserted. Most terminals with a true insert mode will not give ich1; terminals that send a sequence to open a screen position should give it here. (If your terminal has both, insert mode is usually preferable to ich1. Do not give both unless the terminal actually requires both to be used in combination.) If post-insert padding is needed, give this as a number of milliseconds padding in ip (a string option). Any other sequence which may need to be sent after an insert of a single character may also be given in ip. If your terminal needs both to be placed into an `insert mode' and a special code to precede each inserted character, then both smir/rmir and ich1 can be given, and both will be used. The ich capability, with one parameter, n, will insert n blanks.

If padding is necessary between characters typed while not in insert mode, give this as a number of milliseconds padding in rmp.

It is occasionally necessary to move around while in insert mode to delete characters on the same line (for example, if there is a tab after the insertion position). If your terminal allows motion while in insert mode you can give the capability mir to speed up inserting in this case. Omitting mir will affect only speed. Some terminals (notably Datamedia's) must not have mir because of the way their insert mode works.

Finally, you can specify dch1 to delete a single character, dch with one parameter, n, to delete n characters, and delete mode by giving smdc and rmdc to enter and exit delete mode (any mode the terminal needs to be placed in for dch1 to work).

A command to erase n characters (equivalent to outputting n blanks without moving the cursor) can be given as ech with one parameter.

Section 1-7: Highlighting, Underlining, and Visible Bells

Your device may have one or more kinds of display attributes that allow you to highlight selected characters when they appear on the screen. The following display modes (shown with the names by which they are set) may be available: a blinking screen (blink), bold or extra-bright characters (bold), dim or half-bright characters (dim), blanking or invisible text (invis), protected text (prot), a reverse-video screen (rev), and an alternate character set (smacs to enter this mode and rmacs to exit it). (If a command is necessary before you can enter alternate character set mode, give the sequence in enacs or "enable alternate-character-set" mode.) Turning on any of these modes singly may or may not turn off other modes.

sgr0 should be used to turn off all video enhancement capabilities. It should always be specified because it represents the only way to turn off some capabilities, such as dim or blink.

You should choose one display method as standout mode and use it to highlight error messages and other kinds of text to which you want to draw attention. Choose a form of display that provides strong contrast but that is easy on the eyes. (We recommend reverse-video plus half-bright or reverse-video alone.) The sequences to enter and exit standout mode are given as smso and rmso, respectively. If the code to change into or out of standout mode leaves one or even two blank spaces on the screen, as the TVI 912 and Teleray 1061 do, then xmc should be given to tell how many spaces are left.

Sequences to begin underlining and end underlining can be specified as smul and rmul , respectively. If the device has a sequence to underline the current character and to move the cursor one space to the right (such as the Micro-Term MIME), this sequence can be specified as uc.

Terminals with the ``magic cookie'' glitch (xmc) deposit special ``cookies'' when they receive mode-setting sequences, which affect the display algorithm rather than having extra bits for each character. Some terminals, such as the Hewlett-Packard 2621, automatically leave standout mode when they move to a new line or the cursor is addressed. Programs using standout mode should exit standout mode before moving the cursor or sending a newline, unless the msgr capability, asserting that it is safe to move in standout mode, is present.

If the terminal has a way of flashing the screen to indicate an error quietly (a bell replacement), then this can be given as flash; it must not move the cursor. A good flash can be done by changing the screen into reverse video, pad for 200 ms, then return the screen to normal video.

If the cursor needs to be made more visible than normal when it is not on the bottom line (to make, for example, a non-blinking underline into an easier to find block or blinking underline) give this sequence as cvvis. The boolean chts should also be given. If there is a way to make the cursor completely invisible, give that as civis. The capability cnorm should be given which undoes the effects of either of these modes.

If your terminal generates underlined characters by using the underline character (with no special sequences needed) even though it does not otherwise overstrike characters, then you should specify the capability ul. For devices on which a character overstriking another leaves both characters on the screen, specify the capability os. If overstrikes are erasable with a blank, then this should be indicated by specifying eo.

If there is a sequence to set arbitrary combinations of modes, this should be given as sgr (set attributes), taking nine parameters. Each parameter is either 0 or non-zero, as the corresponding attribute is on or off. The nine parameters are, in order: standout, underline, reverse, blink, dim, bold, blank, protect, alternate character set. Not all modes need to be supported by sgr; only those for which corresponding separate attribute commands exist should be supported. For example, let's assume that the terminal in question needs the following escape sequences to turn on various modes.

            tparm
          parameter     attribute      escape sequence
                        none           \E[0m
             p1         standout       \E[0;4;7m
             p2         underline      \E[0;3m
             p3         reverse        \E[0;4m
             p4         blink          \E[0;5m
             p5         dim            \E[0;7m
             p6         bold           \E[0;3;4m
             p7         invis          \E[0;8m
             p8         protect        not available
             p9         altcharset     ^O (off) ^N (on)

Note that each escape sequence requires a 0 to turn off other modes before turning on its own mode. Also note that, as suggested above, standout is set up to be the combination of reverse and dim. Also, because this terminal has no bold mode, bold is set up as the combination of reverse and underline. In addition, to allow combinations, such as underline+blink, the sequence to use would be \E[0;3;5m. The terminal doesn't have protect mode, either, but that cannot be simulated in any way, so p8 is ignored. The altcharset mode is different in that it is either ^O or ^N, depending on whether it is off or on. If all modes were to be turned on, the sequence would be \E[0;3;4;5;7;8m^N.

Now look at when different sequences are output. For example, ;3 is output when either p2 or p6 is true, that is, if either underline or bold modes are turned on.
Writing out the above sequences, along with their dependencies, gives the following:

    sequence      when to output       terminfo translation
    \E[0         always                \E[0
    ;3           if p2 or p6           %?%p2%p6%|%t;3%;
    ;4           if p1 or p3 or p6     %?%p1%p3%|%p6%|%t;4%;
    ;5           if p4                 %?%p4%t;5%;
    ;7           if p1 or p5           %?%p1%p5%|%t;7%;
    ;8           if p7                 %?%p7%t;8%;
    m            always                m
    ^N or ^O     if p9 ^N, else ^O     %?%p9%t^N%e^O%;

Putting this all together into the sgr sequence gives:

sgr=\E[0%?%p2%p6%|%t;3%;%?%p1%p3%|%p6%
|%t;4%;%?%p5%t;5%;%?%p1%p5%
|%t;7%;%?%p7%t;8%;m%?%p9%t^N%e^O%;,

Remember that sgr and sgr0 must always be specified.

Section 1-8: Keypad

If the device has a keypad that transmits sequences when the keys are pressed, this information can also be specified. Note that it is not possible to handle devices where the keypad only works in local (this applies, for example, to the unshifted Hewlett-Packard 2621 keys). If the keypad can be set to transmit or not transmit, specify these sequences as smkx and rmkx. Otherwise the keypad is assumed to always transmit.

The sequences sent by the left arrow, right arrow, up arrow, down arrow, and home keys can be given as kcub1, kcuf1, kcuu1, kcud1, and khome, respectively. If there are function keys such as f0, f1, ..., f63, the sequences they send can be specified as kf0, kf1, ..., kf63. If the first 11 keys have labels other than the default f0 through f10, the labels can be given as lf0, lf1, ..., lf10. The codes transmitted by certain other special keys can be given: kll (home down), kbs (backspace), ktbc (clear all tabs), kctab (clear the tab stop in this column), kclr (clear screen or erase key), kdch1 (delete character), kdl1 (delete line), krmir (exit insert mode), kel (clear to end of line), ked (clear to end of screen), kich1 (insert character or enter insert mode), kil1 (insert line), knp (next page), kpp (previous page), kind (scroll forward/down), kri (scroll backward/up), khts (set a tab stop in this column). In addition, if the keypad has a 3 by 3 array of keys including the four arrow keys, the other five keys can be given as ka1, ka3, kb2, kc1, and kc3. These keys are useful when the effects of a 3 by 3 directional pad are needed. Further keys are defined above in the capabilities list.

Strings to program function keys can be specified as pfkey, pfloc, and pfx. A string to program screen labels should be specified as pln. Each of these strings takes two parameters: a function key identifier and a string to program it with. pfkey causes pressing the given key to be the same as the user typing the given string; pfloc causes the string to be executed by the terminal in local mode; and pfx causes the string to be transmitted to the computer. The capabilities nlab, lw and lh define the number of programmable screen labels and their width and height. If there are commands to turn the labels on and off, give them in smln and rmln. smln is normally output after one or more pln sequences to make sure that the change becomes visible.

Section 1-9: Tabs and Initialization

If the device has hardware tabs, the command to advance to the next tab stop can be given as ht (usually control I). A ``backtab'' command that moves leftward to the next tab stop can be given as cbt. By convention, if tty modes show that tabs are being expanded by the computer rather than being sent to the device, programs should not use ht or cbt (even if they are present) because the user may not have the tab stops properly set. If the device has hardware tabs that are initially set every n spaces when the device is powered up, the numeric parameter it is given, showing the number of spaces the tabs are set to. This is normally used by tput init (see tput.1 to determine whether to set the mode for hardware tab expansion and whether to set the tab stops. If the device has tab stops that can be saved in nonvolatile memory, the terminfo description can assume that they are properly set. If there are commands to set and clear tab stops, they can be given as tbc (clear all tab stops) and hts (set a tab stop in the current column of every row).

Other capabilities include: is1, is2, and is3, initialization strings for the device; iprog, the path name of a program to be run to initialize the device; and if, the name of a file containing long initialization strings. These strings are expected to set the device into modes consistent with the rest of the terminfo description. They must be sent to the device each time the user logs in and be output in the following order: run the program iprog; output is1; output is2; set the margins using mgc, smgl and smgr; set the tabs using tbc and hts; print the file if; and finally output is3. This is usually done using the init option of tput.

Most initialization is done with is2. Special device modes can be set up without duplicating strings by putting the common sequences in is2 and special cases in is1 and is3. Sequences that do a reset from a totally unknown state can be given as rs1, rs2, rf, and rs3, analogous to is1, is2, is3, and if. (The method using files, if and rf, is used for a few terminals, from /usr/share/lib/tabset/*; however, the recommended method is to use the initialization and reset strings.) These strings are output by tput reset, which is used when the terminal gets into a wedged state. Commands are normally placed in rs1, rs2, rs3, and rf only if they produce annoying effects on the screen and are not necessary when logging in. For example, the command to set a terminal into 80-column mode would normally be part of is2, but on some terminals it causes an annoying glitch on the screen and is not normally needed because the terminal is usually already in 80-column mode.

If a more complex sequence is needed to set the tabs than can be described by using tbc and hts, the sequence can be placed in is2 or if.

Any margin can be cleared with mgc. (For instructions on how to specify commands to set and clear margins, see "Margins" below under "PRINTER CAPABILITIES.")

Section 1-10: Delays

Certain capabilities control padding in the tty driver. These are primarily needed by hard-copy terminals, and are used by tput init to set tty modes appropriately. Delays embedded in the capabilities cr, ind, cub1, ff, and tab can be used to set the appropriate delay bits to be set in the tty driver. If pb (padding baud rate) is given, these values can be ignored at baud rates below the value of pb.

Section 1-11: Status Lines

If the terminal has an extra ``status line'' that is not normally used by software, this fact can be indicated. If the status line is viewed as an extra line below the bottom line, into which one can cursor address normally (such as the Heathkit h19's 25th line, or the 24th line of a VT100 which is set to a 23-line scrolling region), the capability hs should be given. Special strings that go to a given column of the status line and return from the status line can be given as tsl and fsl. (fsl must leave the cursor position in the same place it was before tsl. If necessary, the sc and rc strings can be included in tsl and fsl to get this effect.) The capability tsl takes one parameter, which is the column number of the status line the cursor is to be moved to.

If escape sequences and other special commands, such as tab, work while in the status line, the flag eslok can be given. A string which turns off the status line (or otherwise erases its contents) should be given as dsl. If the terminal has commands to save and restore the position of the cursor, give them as sc and rc. The status line is normally assumed to be the same width as the rest of the screen, for example, cols. If the status line is a different width (possibly because the terminal does not allow an entire line to be loaded) the width, in columns, can be indicated with the numeric parameter wsl.

Section 1-12: Line Graphics

If the device has a line drawing alternate character set, the mapping of glyph to character would be given in acsc. The definition of this string is based on the alternate character set used in the DEC VT100 terminal, extended slightly with some characters from the AT&T 4410v1 terminal.

                                          vt100+
               glyph name                character
               arrow pointing right          +
               arrow pointing left           ,
               arrow pointing down           .
               solid square block            0
               lantern symbol                I
               arrow pointing up             -
               diamond                       `
               checker board (stipple)       a
               degree symbol                 f
               plus/minus                    g
               board of squares              h
               lower right corner            j
               upper right corner            k
               upper left corner             l
               lower left corner             m
               plus                          n
               scan line 1                   o
               horizontal line               q
               scan line 9                   s
               left tee (|-)                  t
               right tee (-|)                u
               bottom tee (_|)                v
               top tee (|)                   w
               vertical line                 x
               bullet                        ~


The best way to describe a new device's line graphics set is to add a third column to the above table with the characters for the new device that produce the appropriate glyph when the device is in the alternate character set mode. For example,

                                   vt100+   new tty
              glyph name            char     char
              upper left corner      l         R
              lower left corner      m         F
              upper right corner     k         T
              lower right corner     j         G
              horizontal line        q         ,
              vertical line          x         .

Now write down the characters left to right, as in ``acsc=lRmFkTjGq\,x.''.

In addition, terminfo allows you to define multiple character sets. See Section 2-5 for details.

Section 1-13: Color Manipulation

Let us define two methods of color manipulation: the Tektronix method and the HP method. The Tektronix method uses a set of N predefined colors (usually 8) from which a user can select "current" foreground and background colors. Thus a terminal can support up to N colors mixed into N*N color-pairs to be displayed on the screen at the same time. When using an HP method the user cannot define the foreground independently of the background, or vice-versa. Instead, the user must define an entire color-pair at once. Up to M color-pairs, made from 2*M different colors, can be defined this way. Most existing color terminals belong to one of these two classes of terminals.

The numeric variables colors and pairs define the number of colors and color-pairs that can be displayed on the screen at the same time. If a terminal can change the definition of a color (for example, the Tektronix 4100 and 4200 series terminals), this should be specified with ccc (can change color). To change the definition of a color (Tektronix 4200 method), use initc (initialize color). It requires four arguments: color number (ranging from 0 to colors-1) and three RGB (red, green, and blue) values or three HLS colors (Hue, Lightness, Saturation). Ranges of RGB and HLS values are terminal dependent.

Tektronix 4100 series terminals only use HLS color notation. For such terminals (or dual-mode terminals to be operated in HLS mode) one must define a boolean variable hls; that would instruct the curses init_color routine to convert its RGB arguments to HLS before sending them to the terminal. The last three arguments to the initc string would then be HLS values.

If a terminal can change the definitions of colors, but uses a color notation different from RGB and HLS, a mapping to either RGB or HLS must be developed.

To set current foreground or background to a given color, use setaf (set ANSI foreground) and setab (set ANSI background). They require one parameter: the number of the color. To initialize a color-pair (HP method), use initp (initialize pair). It requires seven parameters: the number of a color-pair (range=0 to pairs-1), and six RGB values: three for the foreground followed by three for the background. (Each of these groups of three should be in the order RGB.) When initc or initp are used, RGB or HLS arguments should be in the order "red, green, blue" or "hue, lightness, saturation"), respectively. To make a color-pair current, use scp (set color-pair). It takes one parameter, the number of a color-pair.

Some terminals (for example, most color terminal emulators for PCs) erase areas of the screen with current background color. In such cases, bce (background color erase) should be defined. The variable op (original pair) contains a sequence for setting the foreground and the background colors to what they were at the terminal start-up time. Similarly, oc (original colors) contains a control sequence for setting all colors (for the Tektronix method) or color-pairs (for the HP method) to the values they had at the terminal start-up time.

Some color terminals substitute color for video attributes. Such video attributes should not be combined with colors. Information about these video attributes should be packed into the ncv (no color video) variable. There is a one-to-one correspondence between the nine least significant bits of that variable and the video attributes. The following table depicts this correspondence.

                                 Bit      Decimal
                 Attribute     Position    Value
                ----------------------------------
                A_STANDOUT        0           1
                A_UNDERLINE       1           2
                A_REVERSE         2           4
                A_BLINK           3           8
                A_DIM             4          16
                A_BOLD            5          32
                A_INVIS           6          64
                A_PROTECT         7         128
                A_ALTCHARSET      8         256

When a particular video attribute should not be used with colors, the corresponding ncv bit should be set to 1; otherwise it should be set to zero. To determine the information to pack into the ncv variable, you must add together the decimal values corresponding to those attributes that cannot coexist with colors. For example, if the terminal uses colors to simulate reverse video (bit number 2 and decimal value 4) and bold (bit number 5 and decimal value 32), the resulting value for ncv will be 36 (4 + 32).

Section 1-14: Miscellaneous

If the terminal requires other than a null (zero) character as a pad, then this can be given as pad. Only the first character of the pad string is used. If the terminal does not have a pad character, specify npc.

If the terminal can move up or down half a line, this can be indicated with hu (half-line up) and hd (half-line down). This is primarily useful for superscripts and subscripts on hardcopy terminals. If a hardcopy terminal can eject to the next page (form feed), give this as ff (usually control L).

If there is a command to repeat a given character a given number of times (to save time transmitting a large number of identical characters) this can be indicated with the parameterized string rep. The first parameter is the character to be repeated and the second is the number of times to repeat it. Thus, tparm(repeat_char, 'x', 10) is the same as xxxxxxxxxx.

If the terminal has a settable command character, such as the Tektronix 4025, this can be indicated with cmdch. A prototype command character is chosen which is used in all capabilities. This character is given in the cmdch capability to identify it. The following convention is supported on some systems: If the environment variable CC exists, all occurrences of the prototype character are replaced with the character in CC.

Terminal descriptions that do not represent a specific kind of known terminal, such as switch, dialup, patch, and network, should include the gn (generic) capability so that programs can complain that they do not know how to talk to the terminal. (This capability does not apply to virtual terminal descriptions for which the escape sequences are known.) If the terminal is one of those supported by the system virtual terminal protocol, the terminal number can be given as vt. A line-turn-around sequence to be transmitted before doing reads should be specified in rfi.

If the device uses xon/xoff handshaking for flow control, give xon. Padding information should still be included so that routines can make better decisions about costs, but actual pad characters will not be transmitted. Sequences to turn on and off xon/xoff handshaking may be given in smxon and rmxon. If the characters used for handshaking are not ^S and ^Q, they may be specified with xonc and xoffc.

If the terminal has a ``meta key'' which acts as a shift key, setting the 8th bit of any character transmitted, this fact can be indicated with km. Otherwise, software will assume that the 8th bit is parity and it will usually be cleared. If strings exist to turn this ``meta mode'' on and off, they can be given as smm and rmm.

If the terminal has more lines of memory than will fit on the screen at once, the number of lines of memory can be indicated with lm. A value of lm#0 indicates that the number of lines is not fixed, but that there is still more memory than fits on the screen.

Media copy strings which control an auxiliary printer connected to the terminal can be given as mc0: print the contents of the screen, mc4: turn off the printer, and mc5: turn on the printer. When the printer is on, all text sent to the terminal will be sent to the printer. A variation, mc5p, takes one parameter, and leaves the printer on for as many characters as the value of the parameter, then turns the printer off. The parameter should not exceed 255. If the text is not displayed on the terminal screen when the printer is on, specify mc5i (silent printer). All text, including mc4, is transparently passed to the printer while an mc5p is in effect.

Section 1-15: Special Cases

The working model used by terminfo fits most terminals reasonably well. However, some terminals do not completely match that model, requiring special support by terminfo. These are not meant to be construed as deficiencies in the terminals; they are just differences between the working model and the actual hardware. They may be unusual devices or, for some reason, do not have all the features of the terminfo model implemented.

Terminals that cannot display tilde (~) characters, such as certain Hazeltine terminals, should indicate hz.

Terminals that ignore a linefeed immediately after an am wrap, such as the Concept 100, should indicate xenl. Those terminals whose cursor remains on the right-most column until another character has been received, rather than wrapping immediately upon receiving the right-most character, such as the VT100, should also indicate xenl.

If el is required to get rid of standout (instead of writing normal text on top of it), xhp should be given.

Those Teleray terminals whose tabs turn all characters moved over to blanks, should indicate xt (destructive tabs). This capability is also taken to mean that it is not possible to position the cursor on top of a ``magic cookie.'' Therefore, to erase standout mode, it is necessary, instead, to use delete and insert line.

Those Beehive Superbee terminals which do not transmit the escape or control-C characters, should specify xsb, indicating that the f1 key is to be used for escape and the f2 key for control C.

Section 1-16: Similar Terminals

If there are two very similar terminals, one can be defined as being just like the other with certain exceptions. The string capability use can be given with the name of the similar terminal. The capabilities given before use override those in the terminal type invoked by use. A capability can be canceled by placing xx@ to the left of the capability definition, where xx is the capability. For example, the entry

att4424-2|Teletype 4424 in display function group ii,
rev@, sgr@, smul@, use=att4424,

defines an AT&T 4424 terminal that does not have the rev, sgr, and smul capabilities, and hence cannot do highlighting. This is useful for different modes for a terminal, or for different user preferences. More than one use capability may be given.

PART 2: PRINTER CAPABILITIES

The terminfo database allows you to define capabilities of printers as well as terminals. To find out what capabilities are available for printers as well as for terminals, see the two lists under "DEVICE CAPABILITIES" that list capabilities by variable and by capability name.

Section 2-1: Rounding Values

Because parameterized string capabilities work only with integer values, we recommend that terminfo designers create strings that expect numeric values that have been rounded. Application designers should note this and should always round values to the nearest integer before using them with a parameterized string capability.

Section 2-2: Printer Resolution

A printer's resolution is defined to be the smallest spacing of characters it can achieve. In general printers have independent resolution horizontally and vertically. Thus the vertical resolution of a printer can be determined by measuring the smallest achievable distance between consecutive printing baselines, while the horizontal resolution can be determined by measuring the smallest achievable distance between the left-most edges of consecutive printed, identical, characters.

All printers are assumed to be capable of printing with a uniform horizontal and vertical resolution. The view of printing that terminfo currently presents is one of printing inside a uniform matrix: All characters are printed at fixed positions relative to each ``cell'' in the matrix; furthermore, each cell has the same size given by the smallest horizontal and vertical step sizes dictated by the resolution. (The cell size can be changed as will be seen later.)

Many printers are capable of ``proportional printing,'' where the horizontal spacing depends on the size of the character last printed. terminfo does not make use of this capability, although it does provide enough capability definitions to allow an application to simulate proportional printing.

A printer must not only be able to print characters as close together as the horizontal and vertical resolutions suggest, but also of ``moving'' to a position an integral multiple of the smallest distance away from a previous position. Thus printed characters can be spaced apart a distance that is an integral multiple of the smallest distance, up to the length or width of a single page.

Some printers can have different resolutions depending on different ``modes.'' In ``normal mode,'' the existing terminfo capabilities are assumed to work on columns and lines, just like a video terminal. Thus the old lines capability would give the length of a page in lines, and the cols capability would give the width of a page in columns. In ``micro mode,'' many terminfo capabilities work on increments of lines and columns. With some printers the micro mode may be concomitant with normal mode, so that all the capabilities work at the same time.

Section 2-3: Specifying Printer Resolution

The printing resolution of a printer is given in several ways. Each specifies the resolution as the number of smallest steps per distance:

               Specification of Printer Resolution
             Characteristic Number of Smallest Steps
             ----------------------------------------
             orhi     Steps per inch horizontally
             orvi     Steps per inch vertically
             orc      Steps per column
             orl      Steps per line

When printing in normal mode, each character printed causes movement to the next column, except in special cases described later; the distance moved is the same as the per-column resolution. Some printers cause an automatic movement to the next line when a character is printed in the rightmost position; the distance moved vertically is the same as the per-line resolution.
When printing in micro mode, these distances can be different, and may be zero for some printers.

               Specification of Printer Resolution
                 Automatic Motion after Printing
               ------------------------------------
               Normal Mode:
               orc     Steps moved horizontally
               orl     Steps moved vertically
               Micro Mode:
               mcs     Steps moved horizontally
               mls     Steps moved vertically

Some printers are capable of printing wide characters. The distance moved when a wide character is printed in normal mode may be different from when a regular width character is printed. The distance moved when a wide character is printed in micro mode may also be different from when a regular character is printed in micro mode, but the differences are assumed to be related: If the distance moved for a regular character is the same whether in normal mode or micro mode (mcs=orc), then the distance moved for a wide character is also the same whether in normal mode or micro mode. This doesn't mean the normal character distance is necessarily the same as the wide character distance, just that the distances don't change with a change in normal to micro mode. However, if the distance moved for a regular character is different in micro mode from the distance moved in normal mode (mcs<orc), the micro mode distance is assumed to be the same for a wide character printed in micro mode, as the table below shows.


              Specification of Printer Resolution
         Automatic Motion after Printing Wide Character
         -----------------------------------------------
         Normal Mode or Micro Mode (mcs = orc):
         widcs          Steps moved horizontally
         Micro Mode (mcs < orc):
         mcs            Steps moved horizontally

There may be control sequences to change the number of columns per inch (the character pitch) and to change the number of lines per inch (the line pitch). If these are used, the resolution of the printer changes, but the type of change depends on the printer:

              Specification of Printer Resolution
              Changing the Character/Line Pitches
     -------------------------------------------------------
     cpi    Change character pitch
     cpix   If set, cpi changes orhi, otherwise changes orc
     lpi    Change line pitch
     lpix   If set, lpi changes orvi, otherwise changes orl
     chr    Change steps per column
     cvr    Change steps per line

The cpi and lpi string capabilities are each used with a single argument, the pitch in columns (or characters) and lines per inch, respectively. The chr and cvr string capabilities are each used with a single argument, the number of steps per column and line, respectively.

Using any of the control sequences in these strings will imply a change in some of the values of orc, orhi, orl, and orvi. Also, the distance moved when a wide character is printed, widcs, changes in relation to orc. The distance moved when a character is printed in micro mode, mcs, changes similarly, with one exception: if the distance is 0 or 1, then no change is assumed (see items marked with ** in the following table).

Programs that use cpi, lpi, chr, or cvr should recalculate the printer resolution (and should recalculate other values-- see "Effect of Changing Printing Resolution" under "Dot-Mapped Graphics").

                            Specification of Printer Resolution
                      Effects of Changing the Character/Line Pitches
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Before                                          After
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Using cpi with cpix clear:
$bold orhi '$                  orhi
$bold orc '$                   $bold orc = bold orhi over V sub italic cpi$
Using cpi with cpix set:
$bold orhi '$                  $bold orhi = bold orc cdot V sub italic cpi$
$bold orc '$                   $bold orc$
Using lpi with lpix clear:
$bold orvi '$                  $bold orvi$
$bold orl '$                   $bold orl = bold orvi over V sub italic lpi$
Using lpi with lpix set:
$bold orvi '$                  $bold orvi = bold orl cdot V sub italic lpi$
$bold orl '$                   $bold orl$
Using chr:
$bold orhi '$                  $bold orhi$
$bold orc '$                   $V sub italic chr$
Using cvr:
$bold orvi '$                  $bold orvi$
$bold orl '$                   $V sub italic cvr$
Using cpi or chr:
$bold widcs '$                 $bold widcs = bold {widcs '} bold orc over { bold {orc '} }$
$bold mcs '$                   $bold mcs = bold {mcs '} bold orc over { bold {orc '} }$

$V sub italic cpi$, $V sub italic lpi$, $V sub italic chr$, and $V sub italic cvr$ are the arguments used with cpi, lpi, chr, and cvr, respectively. The prime marks (') indicate the old values.

Section 2-4: Capabilities that Cause Movement

In the following descriptions, ``movement'' refers to the motion of the ``current position.'' With video terminals this would be the cursor; with some printers this is the carriage position. Other printers have different equivalents. In general, the current position is where a character would be displayed if printed.

terminfo has string capabilities for control sequences that cause movement a number of full columns or lines. It also has equivalent string capabilities for control sequences that cause movement a number of smallest steps.

                 String Capabilities for Motion
               -----------------------------------
               mcub1   Move 1 step left
               mcuf1   Move 1 step right
               mcuu1   Move 1 step up
               mcud1   Move 1 step down
               mcub    Move N steps left
               mcuf    Move N steps right
               mcuu    Move N steps up
               mcud    Move N steps down
               mhpa    Move N steps from the left
               mvpa    Move N steps from the top

The latter six strings are each used with a single argument, N.

Sometimes the motion is limited to less than the width or length of a page. Also, some printers don't accept absolute motion to the left of the current position. terminfo has capabilities for specifying these limits.

                        Limits to Motion
       ---------------------------------------------------
       mjump   Limit on use of mcub1, mcuf1, mcuu1, mcud1
       maddr   Limit on use of mhpa, mvpa
       xhpa    If set, hpa and mhpa can't move left
       xvpa    If set, vpa and mvpa can't move up

If a printer needs to be in a ``micro mode'' for the motion capabilities described above to work, there are string capabilities defined to contain the control sequence to enter and exit this mode. A boolean is available for those printers where using a carriage return causes an automatic return to normal mode.

                   Entering/Exiting Micro Mode
                ----------------------------------
                smicm   Enter micro mode
                rmicm   Exit micro mode
                crxm    Using cr exits micro mode

The movement made when a character is printed in the rightmost position varies among printers. Some make no movement, some move to the beginning of the next line, others move to the beginning of the same line. terminfo has boolean capabilities for describing all three cases.

                  What Happens After Character
                 Printed in Rightmost Position
         -----------------------------------------------
         sam   Automatic move to beginning of same line

Some printers can be put in a mode where the normal direction of motion is reversed. This mode can be especially useful when there are no capabilities for leftward or upward motion, because those capabilities can be built from the motion reversal capability and the rightward or downward motion capabilities. It is best to leave it up to an application to build the leftward or upward capabilities, though, and not enter them in the terminfo database. This allows several reverse motions to be strung together without intervening wasted steps that leave and reenter reverse mode.

                 Entering/Exiting Reverse Modes
           --------------------------------------------
           slm     Reverse sense of horizontal motions
           rlm     Restore sense of horizontal motions
           sum     Reverse sense of vertical motions
           rum     Restore sense of vertical motions
           While sense of horizontal motions reversed:
           mcub1   Move 1 step right
           mcuf1   Move 1 step left
           mcub    Move N steps right
           mcuf    Move N steps left
           cub1    Move 1 column right
           cuf1    Move 1 column left
           cub     Move N columns right
           cuf     Move N columns left
           While sense of vertical motions reversed:
           mcuu1   Move 1 step down
           mcud1   Move 1 step up
           mcuu    Move N steps down
           mcud    Move N steps up
           cuu1    Move 1 line down
           cud1    Move 1 line up
           cuu     Move N lines down
           cud     Move N lines up

The reverse motion modes should not affect the mvpa and mhpa absolute motion capabilities. The reverse vertical motion mode should, however, also reverse the action of the line ``wrapping'' that occurs when a character is printed in the right-most position. Thus printers that have the standard terminfo capability am defined should experience motion to the beginning of the previous line when a character is printed in the right-most position under reverse vertical motion mode.

The action when any other motion capabilities are used in reverse motion modes is not defined; thus, programs must exit reverse motion modes before using other motion capabilities.

Two miscellaneous capabilities complete the list of new motion capabilities. One of these is needed for printers that move the current position to the beginning of a line when certain control characters, such as ``line-feed'' or ``form-feed,'' are used. The other is used for the capability of suspending the motion that normally occurs after printing a character.

                  Miscellaneous Motion Strings
-----------------------------------------------------------------
docr    List of control characters causing cr
zerom   Prevent auto motion after printing next single character

Margins

terminfo provides two strings for setting margins on terminals: one for the left and one for the right margin. Printers, however, have two additional margins, for the top and bottom margins of each page. Furthermore, some printers require not using motion strings to move the current position to a margin and then fixing the margin there, but require the specification of where a margin should be regardless of the current position. Therefore terminfo offers six additional strings for defining margins with printers.

                        Setting Margins
           -------------------------------------------
           smgl    Set left margin at current column
           smgr    Set right margin at current column
           smgb    Set bottom margin at current line
           smgt    Set top margin at current line
           smgbp   Set bottom margin at line N
           smglp   Set left margin at column N
           smgrp   Set right margin at column N
           smgtp   Set top margin at line N

The last four strings are used with one or more arguments that give the position of the margin or margins to set. If both of smglp and smgrp are set, each is used with a single argument, N, that gives the column number of the left and right margin, respectively. If both of smgtp and smgbp are set, each is used to set the top and bottom margin, respectively: smgtp is used with a single argument, N, the line number of the top margin; however, smgbp is used with two arguments, N and M, that give the line number of the bottom margin, the first counting from the top of the page and the second counting from the bottom. This accommodates the two styles of specifying the bottom margin in different manufacturers' printers. When coding a terminfo entry for a printer that has a settable bottom margin, only the first or second parameter should be used, depending on the printer. When writing an application that uses smgbp to set the bottom margin, both arguments must be given.

If only one of smglp and smgrp is set, then it is used with two arguments, the column number of the left and right margins, in that order. Likewise, if only one of smgtp and smgbp is set, then it is used with two arguments that give the top and bottom margins, in that order, counting from the top of the page. Thus when coding a terminfo entry for a printer that requires setting both left and right or top and bottom margins simultaneously, only one of smglp and smgrp or smgtp and smgbp should be defined; the other should be left blank. When writing an application that uses these string capabilities, the pairs should be first checked to see if each in the pair is set or only one is set, and should then be used accordingly.

In counting lines or columns, line zero is the top line and column zero is the left-most column. A zero value for the second argument with smgbp means the bottom line of the page.

All margins can be cleared with mgc.

Shadows, Italics, Wide Characters

Five new sets of strings describe the capabilities printers have of enhancing printed text.

                       Enhanced Printing
      -----------------------------------------------------
      sshm    Enter shadow-printing mode
      rshm    Exit shadow-printing mode
      sitm    Enter italicizing mode
      ritm    Exit italicizing mode
      swidm   Enter wide character mode
      rwidm   Exit wide character mode
      ssupm   Enter superscript mode
      rsupm   Exit superscript mode
      supcs   List of characters available as superscripts
      ssubm   Enter subscript mode
      rsubm   Exit subscript mode
      subcs   List of characters available as subscripts

If a printer requires the sshm control sequence before every character to be shadow-printed, the rshm string is left blank. Thus programs that find a control sequence in sshm but none in rshm should use the sshm control sequence before every character to be shadow-printed; otherwise, the sshm control sequence should be used once before the set of characters to be shadow-printed, followed
by rshm. The same is also true of each of the sitm/ritm, swidm/rwidm, ssupm/rsupm, and ssubm/ rsubm pairs.

Note that terminfo also has a capability for printing emboldened text (bold). While shadow printing and emboldened printing are similar in that they ``darken'' the text, many printers produce these two types of print in slightly different ways. Generally, emboldened printing is done by overstriking the same character one or more times. Shadow printing likewise usually involves overstriking, but with a slight movement up and/or to the side so that the character is ``fatter.''

It is assumed that enhanced printing modes are independent modes, so that it would be possible, for instance, to shadow print italicized subscripts.

As mentioned earlier, the amount of motion automatically made after printing a wide character should be given in widcs.

If only a subset of the printable ASCII characters can be printed as superscripts or subscripts, they should be listed in supcs or subcs strings, respectively. If the ssupm or ssubm strings contain control sequences, but the corresponding supcs or subcs strings are empty, it is assumed that all printable ASCII characters are available as superscripts or subscripts.


Automatic motion made after printing a superscript or subscript is assumed to be the same as for regular characters. Thus, for example, printing any of the following three examples will result in equivalent motion:

Bi Bi Bi

Note that the existing msgr boolean capability describes whether motion control sequences can be used while in ``standout mode.'' This capability is extended to cover the enhanced printing modes added here. msgr should be set for those printers that accept any motion control sequences without affecting shadow, italicized, widened, superscript, or subscript printing. Conversely, if msgr is not set, a program should end these modes before attempting any motion.

Section 2-5: Alternate Character Sets

In addition to allowing you to define line graphics (described in Section 1-12), terminfo lets you define alternate character sets. The following capabilities cover printers and terminals with multiple selectable or definable character sets.

                    Alternate Character Sets
    ----------------------------------------------------------
    scs     Select character set N
    scsd    Start definition of character set N, M characters
    defc    Define character A, B dots wide, descender D
    rcsd    End definition of character set N
    csnm    List of character set names
    daisy   Printer has manually changed print-wheels

The scs, rcsd, and csnm strings are used with a single argument, N, a number from 0 to 63 that identifies the character set. The scsd string is also used with the argument N and another, M, that gives the number of characters in the set. The defc string is used with three arguments: A gives the ASCII code representation for the character, B gives the width of the character in dots, and D is zero or one depending on whether the character is a ``descender'' or not. The defc string is also followed by a string of ``image-data'' bytes that describe how the character looks (see below).

Character set 0 is the default character set present after the printer has been initialized. Not every printer has 64 character sets, of course; using scs with an argument that doesn't select an available character set should cause a null result from tparm.

If a character set has to be defined before it can be used, the scsd control sequence is to be used before defining the character set, and the rcsd is to be used after. They should also cause a null result from tparm when used with an argument N that doesn't apply. If a character set still has to be selected after being defined, the scs control sequence should follow the rcsd control sequence. By examining the results of using each of the scs, scsd, and rcsd strings with a character set number in a call to tparm, a program can determine which of the three are needed.

Between use of the scsd and rcsd strings, the defc string should be used to define each character. To print any character on printers covered by terminfo, the ASCII code is sent to the printer. This is true for characters in an alternate set as well as ``normal'' characters. Thus the definition of a character includes the ASCII code that represents it. In addition, the width of the character in dots is given, along with an indication of whether the character should descend below the print line (such as the lower case letter ``g'' in most character sets). The width of the character in dots also indicates the number of image-data bytes that will follow the defc string. These image-data bytes indicate where in a dot-matrix pattern ink should be applied to ``draw'' the character; the number of these bytes and their form are defined below under ``Dot-Mapped Graphics.''

It's easiest for the creator of terminfo entries to refer to each character set by number; however, these numbers will be meaningless to the application developer. The csnm string alleviates this problem by providing names for each number.

When used with a character set number in a call to tparm, the csnm string will produce the equivalent name. These names should be used as a reference only. No naming convention is implied, although anyone who creates a terminfo entry for a printer should use names consistent with the names found in user documents for the printer. Application developers should allow a user to specify a character set by number (leaving it up to the user to examine the csnm string to determine the correct number), or by name, where the application examines the csnm string to determine the corresponding character set number.

These capabilities are likely to be used only with dot-matrix printers. If they are not available, the strings should not be defined. For printers that have manually changed print-wheels or font cartridges, the boolean daisy is set.

Section 2-6: Dot-Matrix Graphics

Dot-matrix printers typically have the capability of reproducing ``raster-graphics'' images. Three new numeric capabilities and three new string capabilities can
help a program draw raster-graphics images independent of the type of dot-matrix printer or the number of pins or dots the printer can handle at one time.
                       Dot-Matrix Graphics
     --------------------------------------------------------
     npins    Number of pins, N, in print-head
     spinv    Spacing of pins vertically in pins per inch
     spinh    Spacing of dots horizontally in dots per inch
     porder   Matches software bits to print-head pins
     sbim     Start printing bit image graphics, B bits wide
     rbim     End printing bit image graphics

The sbim sring is used with a single argument, B, the width of the image in dots.

The model of dot-matrix or raster-graphics that terminfo presents is similar to the technique used for most dot-matrix printers: each pass of the printer's print-head is assumed to produce a dot-matrix that is N dots high and B dots wide. This is typically a wide, squat, rectangle of dots. The height of this rectangle in dots will vary from one printer to the next; this is given in the npins numeric capability. The size of the rectangle in fractions of an inch will also vary; it can be deduced from the spinv and spinh numeric capabilities.
With these three values an application can divide a complete raster-graphics image into several horizontal strips, perhaps interpolating to account for different dot spacing vertically and horizontally.

The sbim and rbim strings are used to start and end a dot-matrix image, respectively. The sbim string is used with a single argument that gives the width of the dot-matrix in dots. A sequence of ``image-data bytes'' are sent to the printer after the sbim string and before the rbim string. The number of bytes is a integral multiple of the width of the dot-matrix; the multiple and the form of each byte is determined by the porder string as described below.

The porder string is a comma separated list of pin numbers optionally followed by an numerical offset. The offset, if given, is separated from the list with a semicolon. The position of each pin number in the list corresponds to a bit in an 8-bit data byte. The pins are numbered consecutively from 1 to npins, with 1 being the top pin. Note that the term ``pin'' is used loosely here; ``ink-jet'' dot-matrix printers don't have pins, but can be considered to have an equivalent method of applying a single dot of ink to paper. The bit positions in porder are in groups of 8, with the first position in each group the most significant bit and the last position the least significant bit. An application produces 8-bit bytes in the order of the groups in porder.

An application computes the ``image-data bytes'' from the internal image, mapping vertical dot positions in each print-head pass into 8-bit bytes, using a 1 bit where ink should be applied and 0 where no ink should be applied. This can be reversed (0 bit for ink, 1 bit for no ink) by giving a negative pin number. If a position is skipped in porder, a 0 bit is used. If a position has a lower case `x' instead of a pin number, a 1 bit is used in the skipped position. For consistency, a lower case `o' can be used to represent a 0 filled, skipped bit. There must be a multiple of 8 bit positions used or skipped in porder; if not, 0 bits are used to fill the last byte in the least significant bits. The offset, if given, is added to each data byte; the offset can be negative.

Some examples may help clarify the use of the porder string. The AT&T 470, AT&T 475 and C.Itoh 8510 printers provide eight pins for graphics. The pins are identified top to bottom by the 8 bits in a byte, from least significant to most. The porder strings for these printers would be 8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1. The AT&T 478 and AT&T 479 printers also provide eight pins f


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Last modified 21/April/97