XSETROOT(1)                          SysV                          XSETROOT(1)



NAME
     xsetroot - root window parameter setting utility for X

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

DESCRIPTION
     The setroot program allows you to tailor the appearance of the background
     ("root") window on a workstation display running X.  Normally, you
     experiment with xsetroot until you find a personalized look that you
     like, then put the xsetroot command that produces it into your X startup
     file.  If no options are specified, or if -def is specified, the window
     is reset to its default state.  The -def option can be specified along
     with other options and only the non-specified characteristics will be
     reset to the default state.

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

OPTIONS
     The various options are as follows:

     -help
          Print a usage message and exit.

     -def Reset unspecified attributes to the default values.  (Restores the
          background to the familiar gray mesh and the cursor to the hollow x
          shape.)

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

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

     -mod x y
          This is used if you want a plaid-like grid pattern on your screen.
          x and y are integers ranging from 1 to 16.  Try the different
          combinations.  Zero and negative numbers are taken as 1.

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

     -grey
          Make the entire background grey.

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

     -bg color

          Use ``color'' as the background color.

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

     -solid color
          Set the window color to ``color''.

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

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

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

COPYRIGHT
     Copyright 1988, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
     See X(1) for a full statement of rights and permissions.

AUTHOR
     Mark Lillibridge, MIT Project Athena