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Revision 1.12 by root, Thu Feb 17 12:06:21 2005 UTC vs.
Revision 1.35 by root, Tue Jan 31 00:25:16 2006 UTC

1FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 1FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
2 The new selection selects pieces that are too big, how can I select
3 single words?
4 Yes. For example, if you want to select alphanumeric words, you can
5 use the following resource:
6
7 URxvt.selection.pattern-0: ([[:word:]]+)
8
9 If you click more than twice, the selection will be extended more
10 and more.
11
12 To get a selection that is very similar to the old code, try this
13 pattern:
14
15 URxvt.selection.pattern-0: ([^"&'()*,;<=>?@[\\\\]^`{|})]+)
16
17 Please also note that the *LeftClick Shift-LeftClik* combination
18 also selects words like the old code.
19
20 I don't like the new selection/popups/hotkeys/perl, how do I
21 change/disable it?
22 You can disable the perl extension completely by setting the
23 perl-ext-common resource to the empty string, which also keeps
24 rxvt-unicode from initialising perl, saving memory.
25
26 If you only want to disable specific features, you first have to
27 identify which perl extension is responsible. For this, read the
28 section PREPACKAGED EXTENSIONS in the rxvtperl(3) manpage. For
29 example, to disable the selection-popup and option-popup, specify
30 this perl-ext-common resource:
31
32 URxvt.perl-ext-common: default,-selection-popup,-option-popup
33
34 This will keep the default extensions, but disable the two popup
35 extensions. Some extensions can also be configured, for example,
36 scrollback search mode is triggered by M-s. You can move it to any
37 other combination either by setting the searchable-scrollback
38 resource:
39
40 URxvt.searchable-scrollback: CM-s
41
42 Why doesn't rxvt-unicode read my resources?
43 Well, why, indeed? It does, in a way very similar to other X
44 applications. Most importantly, this means that if you or your OS
45 loads resources into the X display (the right way to do it),
46 rxvt-unicode will ignore any resource files in your home directory.
47 It will only read $HOME/.Xdefaults when no resources are attached to
48 the display.
49
50 If you have or use an $HOME/.Xresources file, chances are that
51 resources are loaded into your X-server. In this case, you have to
52 re-login after every change (or run xrdb -merge $HOME/.Xresources).
53
54 Also consider the form resources have to use:
55
56 URxvt.resource: value
57
58 If you want to use another form (there are lots of different ways of
59 specifying resources), make sure you understand wether and why it
60 works. If unsure, use the form above.
61
62 I can't get transparency working, what am I doing wrong?
63 First of all, transparency isn't officially supported in
64 rxvt-unicode, so you are mostly on your own. Do not bug the author
65 about it (but you may bug everybody else). Also, if you can't get it
66 working consider it a rite of passage: ... and you failed.
67
68 Here are four ways to get transparency. Do read the manpage and
69 option descriptions for the programs mentioned and rxvt-unicode.
70 Really, do it!
71
72 1. Use inheritPixmap:
73
74 Esetroot wallpaper.jpg
75 rxvt -ip -tint red -sh 40
76
77 That works. If you think it doesn't, you lack transparency and
78 tinting support, or you are unable to read.
79
80 2. Use a simple pixmap and emulate pseudo-transparency. This enables
81 you to use effects other than tinting and shading: Just
82 shade/tint/whatever your picture with gimp:
83
84 convert wallpaper.jpg -blur 20x20 -modulate 30 background.xpm
85 rxvt -pixmap background.xpm -pe automove-background
86
87 That works. If you think it doesn't, you lack XPM and Perl support,
88 or you are unable to read.
89
90 3. Use an ARGB visual:
91
92 rxvt -depth 32 -fg grey90 -bg rgba:0000/0000/4444/cccc
93
94 This requires XFT support, and the support of your X-server. If that
95 doesn't work for you, blame Xorg and Keith Packard. ARGB visuals
96 aren't there yet, no matter what they claim. Rxvt-Unicode contains
97 the neccessary bugfixes and workarounds for Xft and Xlib to make it
98 work, but that doesn't mean that your WM has the required kludges in
99 place.
100
101 4. Use xcompmgr and let it do the job:
102
103 xprop -frame -f _NET_WM_WINDOW_OPACITY 32c \
104 -set _NET_WM_WINDOW_OPACITY 0xc0000000
105
106 Then click on a window you want to make transparent. Replace
107 0xc0000000 by other values to change the degree of opacity. If it
108 doesn't work and your server crashes, you got to keep the pieces.
109
110 Isn't rxvt supposed to be small? Don't all those features bloat?
111 I often get asked about this, and I think, no, they didn't cause
112 extra bloat. If you compare a minimal rxvt and a minimal urxvt, you
113 can see that the urxvt binary is larger (due to some encoding tables
114 always being compiled in), but it actually uses less memory (RSS)
115 after startup. Even with "--disable-everything", this comparison is
116 a bit unfair, as many features unique to urxvt (locale, encoding
117 conversion, iso14755 etc.) are already in use in this mode.
118
119 text data bss drs rss filename
120 98398 1664 24 15695 1824 rxvt --disable-everything
121 188985 9048 66616 18222 1788 urxvt --disable-everything
122
123 When you "--enable-everything" (which _is_ unfair, as this involves
124 xft and full locale/XIM support which are quite bloaty inside libX11
125 and my libc), the two diverge, but not unreasnobaly so.
126
127 text data bss drs rss filename
128 163431 2152 24 20123 2060 rxvt --enable-everything
129 1035683 49680 66648 29096 3680 urxvt --enable-everything
130
131 The very large size of the text section is explained by the
132 east-asian encoding tables, which, if unused, take up disk space but
133 nothing else and can be compiled out unless you rely on X11 core
134 fonts that use those encodings. The BSS size comes from the 64k
135 emergency buffer that my c++ compiler allocates (but of course
136 doesn't use unless you are out of memory). Also, using an xft font
137 instead of a core font immediately adds a few megabytes of RSS. Xft
138 indeed is responsible for a lot of RSS even when not used.
139
140 Of course, due to every character using two or four bytes instead of
141 one, a large scrollback buffer will ultimately make rxvt-unicode use
142 more memory.
143
144 Compared to e.g. Eterm (5112k), aterm (3132k) and xterm (4680k),
145 this still fares rather well. And compared to some monsters like
146 gnome-terminal (21152k + extra 4204k in separate processes) or
147 konsole (22200k + extra 43180k in daemons that stay around after
148 exit, plus half a minute of startup time, including the hundreds of
149 warnings it spits out), it fares extremely well *g*.
150
151 Why C++, isn't that unportable/bloated/uncool?
152 Is this a question? :) It comes up very often. The simple answer is:
153 I had to write it, and C++ allowed me to write and maintain it in a
154 fraction of the time and effort (which is a scarce resource for me).
155 Put even shorter: It simply wouldn't exist without C++.
156
157 My personal stance on this is that C++ is less portable than C, but
158 in the case of rxvt-unicode this hardly matters, as its portability
159 limits are defined by things like X11, pseudo terminals, locale
160 support and unix domain sockets, which are all less portable than
161 C++ itself.
162
163 Regarding the bloat, see the above question: It's easy to write
164 programs in C that use gobs of memory, an certainly possible to
165 write programs in C++ that don't. C++ also often comes with large
166 libraries, but this is not necessarily the case with GCC. Here is
167 what rxvt links against on my system with a minimal config:
168
169 libX11.so.6 => /usr/X11R6/lib/libX11.so.6 (0x00002aaaaabc3000)
170 libc.so.6 => /lib/libc.so.6 (0x00002aaaaadde000)
171 libdl.so.2 => /lib/libdl.so.2 (0x00002aaaab01d000)
172 /lib64/ld-linux-x86-64.so.2 (0x00002aaaaaaab000)
173
174 And here is rxvt-unicode:
175
176 libX11.so.6 => /usr/X11R6/lib/libX11.so.6 (0x00002aaaaabc3000)
177 libgcc_s.so.1 => /lib/libgcc_s.so.1 (0x00002aaaaada2000)
178 libc.so.6 => /lib/libc.so.6 (0x00002aaaaaeb0000)
179 libdl.so.2 => /lib/libdl.so.2 (0x00002aaaab0ee000)
180 /lib64/ld-linux-x86-64.so.2 (0x00002aaaaaaab000)
181
182 No large bloated libraries (of course, none were linked in
183 statically), except maybe libX11 :)
184
185 Does it support tabs, can I have a tabbed rxvt-unicode?
186 Beginning with version 7.3, there is a perl extension that
187 implements a simple tabbed terminal. It is installed by default, so
188 any of these should give you tabs:
189
190 rxvt -pe tabbed
191
192 URxvt.perl-ext-common: default,tabbed
193
194 It will also work fine with tabbing functionality of many window
195 managers or similar tabbing programs, and its embedding-features
196 allow it to be embedded into other programs, as witnessed by
197 doc/rxvt-tabbed or the upcoming "Gtk2::URxvt" perl module, which
198 features a tabbed urxvt (murxvt) terminal as an example embedding
199 application.
200
2 How do I know which rxvt-unicode version I'm using? 201 How do I know which rxvt-unicode version I'm using?
3 The version number is displayed with the usage (-h). Also the escape 202 The version number is displayed with the usage (-h). Also the escape
4 sequence "ESC [ 8 n" sets the window title to the version number. 203 sequence "ESC [ 8 n" sets the window title to the version number.
204 When using the rxvtc client, the version displayed is that of the
205 daemon.
5 206
6 I am using Debian GNU/Linux and have a problem... 207 I am using Debian GNU/Linux and have a problem...
7 The Debian GNU/Linux package of rxvt-unicode contains large patches 208 The Debian GNU/Linux package of rxvt-unicode in sarge contains large
8 that considerably change the behaviour of rxvt-unicode. Before 209 patches that considerably change the behaviour of rxvt-unicode (but
210 unfortunately this notice has been removed). Before reporting a bug
9 reporting a bug to the original rxvt-unicode author please download 211 to the original rxvt-unicode author please download and install the
10 and install the genuine version
11 (<http://software.schmorp.de#rxvt-unicode>) and try to reproduce the 212 genuine version (<http://software.schmorp.de#rxvt-unicode>) and try
12 problem. If you cannot, chances are that the problems are specific 213 to reproduce the problem. If you cannot, chances are that the
13 to Debian GNU/Linux, in which case it should be reported via the 214 problems are specific to Debian GNU/Linux, in which case it should
14 Debian Bug Tracking System (use "reportbug" to report the bug). 215 be reported via the Debian Bug Tracking System (use "reportbug" to
216 report the bug).
15 217
16 For other problems that also affect the Debian package, you can and 218 For other problems that also affect the Debian package, you can and
17 probably should use the Debian BTS, too, because, after all, it's 219 probably should use the Debian BTS, too, because, after all, it's
18 also a bug in the Debian version and it serves as a reminder for 220 also a bug in the Debian version and it serves as a reminder for
19 other users that might encounter the same issue. 221 other users that might encounter the same issue.
222
223 I am maintaining rxvt-unicode for distribution/OS XXX, any
224 recommendation?
225 You should build one binary with the default options. configure now
226 enables most useful options, and the trend goes to making them
227 runtime-switchable, too, so there is usually no drawback to enbaling
228 them, except higher disk and possibly memory usage. The perl
229 interpreter should be enabled, as important functionality (menus,
230 selection, likely more in the future) depends on it.
231
232 You should not overwrite the "perl-ext-common" snd "perl-ext"
233 resources system-wide (except maybe with "defaults"). This will
234 result in useful behaviour. If your distribution aims at low memory,
235 add an empty "perl-ext-common" resource to the app-defaults file.
236 This will keep the perl interpreter disabled until the user enables
237 it.
238
239 If you can/want build more binaries, I recommend building a minimal
240 one with "--disable-everything" (very useful) and a maximal one with
241 "--enable-everything" (less useful, it will be very big due to a lot
242 of encodings built-in that increase download times and are rarely
243 used).
244
245 I need to make it setuid/setgid to support utmp/ptys on my OS, is this
246 safe?
247 It should be, starting with release 7.1. You are encouraged to
248 properly install urxvt with privileges necessary for your OS now.
249
250 When rxvt-unicode detects that it runs setuid or setgid, it will
251 fork into a helper process for privileged operations (pty handling
252 on some systems, utmp/wtmp/lastlog handling on others) and drop
253 privileges immediately. This is much safer than most other terminals
254 that keep privileges while running (but is more relevant to urxvt,
255 as it contains things as perl interpreters, which might be "helpful"
256 to attackers).
257
258 This forking is done as the very first within main(), which is very
259 early and reduces possible bugs to initialisation code run before
260 main(), or things like the dynamic loader of your system, which
261 should result in very little risk.
20 262
21 When I log-in to another system it tells me about missing terminfo data? 263 When I log-in to another system it tells me about missing terminfo data?
22 The terminal description used by rxvt-unicode is not as widely 264 The terminal description used by rxvt-unicode is not as widely
23 available as that for xterm, or even rxvt (for which the same 265 available as that for xterm, or even rxvt (for which the same
24 problem often arises). 266 problem often arises).
44 286
45 URxvt.termName: rxvt 287 URxvt.termName: rxvt
46 288
47 If you don't plan to use rxvt (quite common...) you could also 289 If you don't plan to use rxvt (quite common...) you could also
48 replace the rxvt terminfo file with the rxvt-unicode one. 290 replace the rxvt terminfo file with the rxvt-unicode one.
291
292 "tic" outputs some error when compiling the terminfo entry.
293 Most likely it's the empty definition for "enacs=". Just replace it
294 by "enacs=\E[0@" and try again.
49 295
50 "bash"'s readline does not work correctly under rxvt. 296 "bash"'s readline does not work correctly under rxvt.
51 I need a termcap file entry. 297 I need a termcap file entry.
52 One reason you might want this is that some distributions or 298 One reason you might want this is that some distributions or
53 operating systems still compile some programs using the 299 operating systems still compile some programs using the
226 that doesn't work, you might be forced to use a different font. 472 that doesn't work, you might be forced to use a different font.
227 473
228 All of this is not a problem when using X11 core fonts, as their 474 All of this is not a problem when using X11 core fonts, as their
229 bounding box data is correct. 475 bounding box data is correct.
230 476
477 On Solaris 9, many line-drawing characters are too wide.
478 Seems to be a known bug, read
479 <http://nixdoc.net/files/forum/about34198.html>. Some people use the
480 following ugly workaround to get non-double-wide-characters working:
481
482 #define wcwidth(x) wcwidth(x) > 1 ? 1 : wcwidth(x)
483
231 My Compose (Multi_key) key is no longer working. 484 My Compose (Multi_key) key is no longer working.
232 The most common causes for this are that either your locale is not 485 The most common causes for this are that either your locale is not
233 set correctly, or you specified a preeditStyle that is not supported 486 set correctly, or you specified a preeditStyle that is not supported
234 by your input method. For example, if you specified OverTheSpot and 487 by your input method. For example, if you specified OverTheSpot and
235 your input method (e.g. the default input method handling Compose 488 your input method (e.g. the default input method handling Compose
279 As you might have guessed, FreeBSD does neither define this symobl 532 As you might have guessed, FreeBSD does neither define this symobl
280 nor does it support it. Instead, it uses it's own internal 533 nor does it support it. Instead, it uses it's own internal
281 representation of wchar_t. This is, of course, completely fine with 534 representation of wchar_t. This is, of course, completely fine with
282 respect to standards. 535 respect to standards.
283 536
537 However, that means rxvt-unicode only works in "POSIX", "ISO-8859-1"
538 and "UTF-8" locales under FreeBSD (which all use Unicode as wchar_t.
539
284 However, "__STDC_ISO_10646__" is the only sane way to support 540 "__STDC_ISO_10646__" is the only sane way to support multi-language
285 multi-language apps in an OS, as using a locale-dependent (and 541 apps in an OS, as using a locale-dependent (and non-standardized)
286 non-standardized) representation of wchar_t makes it impossible to 542 representation of wchar_t makes it impossible to convert between
287 convert between wchar_t (as used by X11 and your applications) and 543 wchar_t (as used by X11 and your applications) and any other
288 any other encoding without implementing OS-specific-wrappers for 544 encoding without implementing OS-specific-wrappers for each and
289 each and every locale. There simply are no APIs to convert wchar_t 545 every locale. There simply are no APIs to convert wchar_t into
290 into anything except the current locale encoding. 546 anything except the current locale encoding.
291 547
292 Some applications (such as the formidable mlterm) work around this 548 Some applications (such as the formidable mlterm) work around this
293 by carrying their own replacement functions for character set 549 by carrying their own replacement functions for character set
294 handling with them, and either implementing OS-dependent hacks or 550 handling with them, and either implementing OS-dependent hacks or
295 doing multiple conversions (which is slow and unreliable in case the 551 doing multiple conversions (which is slow and unreliable in case the
297 emulator). 553 emulator).
298 554
299 The rxvt-unicode author insists that the right way to fix this is in 555 The rxvt-unicode author insists that the right way to fix this is in
300 the system libraries once and for all, instead of forcing every app 556 the system libraries once and for all, instead of forcing every app
301 to carry complete replacements for them :) 557 to carry complete replacements for them :)
558
559 I use Solaris 9 and it doesn't compile/work/etc.
560 Try the diff in doc/solaris9.patch as a base. It fixes the worst
561 problems with "wcwidth" and a compile problem.
562
563 How can I use rxvt-unicode under cygwin?
564 rxvt-unicode should compile and run out of the box on cygwin, using
565 the X11 libraries that come with cygwin. libW11 emulation is no
566 longer supported (and makes no sense, either, as it only supported a
567 single font). I recommend starting the X-server in "-multiwindow" or
568 "-rootless" mode instead, which will result in similar look&feel as
569 the old libW11 emulation.
570
571 At the time of this writing, cygwin didn't seem to support any
572 multi-byte encodings (you might try "LC_CTYPE=C-UTF-8"), so you are
573 likely limited to 8-bit encodings.
302 574
303 How does rxvt-unicode determine the encoding to use? 575 How does rxvt-unicode determine the encoding to use?
304 Is there an option to switch encodings? 576 Is there an option to switch encodings?
305 Unlike some other terminals, rxvt-unicode has no encoding switch, 577 Unlike some other terminals, rxvt-unicode has no encoding switch,
306 and no specific "utf-8" mode, such as xterm. In fact, it doesn't 578 and no specific "utf-8" mode, such as xterm. In fact, it doesn't
382 654
383 My input method wants <some encoding> but I want UTF-8, what can I do? 655 My input method wants <some encoding> but I want UTF-8, what can I do?
384 You can specify separate locales for the input method and the rest 656 You can specify separate locales for the input method and the rest
385 of the terminal, using the resource "imlocale": 657 of the terminal, using the resource "imlocale":
386 658
387 URxvt*imlocale: ja_JP.EUC-JP 659 URxvt.imlocale: ja_JP.EUC-JP
388 660
389 Now you can start your terminal with "LC_CTYPE=ja_JP.UTF-8" and 661 Now you can start your terminal with "LC_CTYPE=ja_JP.UTF-8" and
390 still use your input method. Please note, however, that you will not 662 still use your input method. Please note, however, that you will not
391 be able to input characters outside "EUC-JP" in a normal way then, 663 be able to input characters outside "EUC-JP" in a normal way then,
392 as your input method limits you. 664 as your input method limits you.
418 it gets worse, as rxvt-unicode then uses 8 bytes per screen cell. 690 it gets worse, as rxvt-unicode then uses 8 bytes per screen cell.
419 691
420 Can I speed up Xft rendering somehow? 692 Can I speed up Xft rendering somehow?
421 Yes, the most obvious way to speed it up is to avoid Xft entirely, 693 Yes, the most obvious way to speed it up is to avoid Xft entirely,
422 as it is simply slow. If you still want Xft fonts you might try to 694 as it is simply slow. If you still want Xft fonts you might try to
423 disable antialiasing (by appending ":antialiasing=false"), which 695 disable antialiasing (by appending ":antialias=false"), which saves
424 saves lots of memory and also speeds up rendering considerably. 696 lots of memory and also speeds up rendering considerably.
425 697
426 Rxvt-unicode doesn't seem to anti-alias its fonts, what is wrong? 698 Rxvt-unicode doesn't seem to anti-alias its fonts, what is wrong?
427 Rxvt-unicode will use whatever you specify as a font. If it needs to 699 Rxvt-unicode will use whatever you specify as a font. If it needs to
428 fall back to it's default font search list it will prefer X11 core 700 fall back to it's default font search list it will prefer X11 core
429 fonts, because they are small and fast, and then use Xft fonts. It 701 fonts, because they are small and fast, and then use Xft fonts. It
435 Mouse cut/paste suddenly no longer works. 707 Mouse cut/paste suddenly no longer works.
436 Make sure that mouse reporting is actually turned off since killing 708 Make sure that mouse reporting is actually turned off since killing
437 some editors prematurely may leave the mouse in mouse report mode. 709 some editors prematurely may leave the mouse in mouse report mode.
438 I've heard that tcsh may use mouse reporting unless it otherwise 710 I've heard that tcsh may use mouse reporting unless it otherwise
439 specified. A quick check is to see if cut/paste works when the Alt 711 specified. A quick check is to see if cut/paste works when the Alt
440 or Shift keys are depressed. See rxvt(7) 712 or Shift keys are depressed.
441 713
442 What's with this bold/blink stuff? 714 What's with this bold/blink stuff?
443 If no bold colour is set via "colorBD:", bold will invert text using 715 If no bold colour is set via "colorBD:", bold will invert text using
444 the standard foreground colour. 716 the standard foreground colour.
445 717
501 URxvt.color14: #73f7ff 773 URxvt.color14: #73f7ff
502 URxvt.color7: #e1dddd 774 URxvt.color7: #e1dddd
503 URxvt.color15: #e1dddd 775 URxvt.color15: #e1dddd
504 776
505 How can I start rxvtd in a race-free way? 777 How can I start rxvtd in a race-free way?
506 Despite it's name, rxvtd is not a real daemon, but more like a 778 Try "rxvtd -f -o", which tells rxvtd to open the display, create the
507 server that answers rxvtc's requests, so it doesn't background 779 listening socket and then fork.
508 itself.
509
510 To ensure rxvtd is listening on it's socket, you can use the
511 following method to wait for the startup message before continuing:
512
513 { rxvtd & } | read
514 780
515 What's with the strange Backspace/Delete key behaviour? 781 What's with the strange Backspace/Delete key behaviour?
516 Assuming that the physical Backspace key corresponds to the 782 Assuming that the physical Backspace key corresponds to the
517 BackSpace keysym (not likely for Linux ... see the following 783 BackSpace keysym (not likely for Linux ... see the following
518 question) there are two standard values that can be used for 784 question) there are two standard values that can be used for
537 803
538 # use Backspace = ^? 804 # use Backspace = ^?
539 $ stty erase ^? 805 $ stty erase ^?
540 $ rxvt 806 $ rxvt
541 807
542 Toggle with "ESC [ 36 h" / "ESC [ 36 l" as documented in rxvt(7). 808 Toggle with "ESC [ 36 h" / "ESC [ 36 l".
543 809
544 For an existing rxvt-unicode: 810 For an existing rxvt-unicode:
545 811
546 # use Backspace = ^H 812 # use Backspace = ^H
547 $ stty erase ^H 813 $ stty erase ^H

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