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Revision 1.20 by root, Sat Dec 24 12:55:17 2005 UTC vs.
Revision 1.36 by root, Tue Jan 31 00:53:49 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 The cursor moves when selecting text in the current input line, how do I
43 switch this off?
44 During rlogin/ssh/telnet/etc. sessions, clicking near the cursor outputs
45 strange escape sequences, how do I fix this?
46 These are caused by the "readline" perl extension. Under normal
47 circumstances, it will move your cursor around when you click into
48 the line that contains it. It tries hard not to do this at the wrong
49 moment, but when running a program that doesn't parse cursor
50 movements or in some cases during rlogin sessions, it fails to
51 detect this properly.
52
53 You can permamently switch this feature off by disabling the
54 "readline" extension:
55
56 URxvt.perl-ext-common: default,-readline
57
58 Why doesn't rxvt-unicode read my resources?
59 Well, why, indeed? It does, in a way very similar to other X
60 applications. Most importantly, this means that if you or your OS
61 loads resources into the X display (the right way to do it),
62 rxvt-unicode will ignore any resource files in your home directory.
63 It will only read $HOME/.Xdefaults when no resources are attached to
64 the display.
65
66 If you have or use an $HOME/.Xresources file, chances are that
67 resources are loaded into your X-server. In this case, you have to
68 re-login after every change (or run xrdb -merge $HOME/.Xresources).
69
70 Also consider the form resources have to use:
71
72 URxvt.resource: value
73
74 If you want to use another form (there are lots of different ways of
75 specifying resources), make sure you understand wether and why it
76 works. If unsure, use the form above.
77
78 I can't get transparency working, what am I doing wrong?
79 First of all, transparency isn't officially supported in
80 rxvt-unicode, so you are mostly on your own. Do not bug the author
81 about it (but you may bug everybody else). Also, if you can't get it
82 working consider it a rite of passage: ... and you failed.
83
84 Here are four ways to get transparency. Do read the manpage and
85 option descriptions for the programs mentioned and rxvt-unicode.
86 Really, do it!
87
88 1. Use inheritPixmap:
89
90 Esetroot wallpaper.jpg
91 rxvt -ip -tint red -sh 40
92
93 That works. If you think it doesn't, you lack transparency and
94 tinting support, or you are unable to read.
95
96 2. Use a simple pixmap and emulate pseudo-transparency. This enables
97 you to use effects other than tinting and shading: Just
98 shade/tint/whatever your picture with gimp:
99
100 convert wallpaper.jpg -blur 20x20 -modulate 30 background.xpm
101 rxvt -pixmap background.xpm -pe automove-background
102
103 That works. If you think it doesn't, you lack XPM and Perl support,
104 or you are unable to read.
105
106 3. Use an ARGB visual:
107
108 rxvt -depth 32 -fg grey90 -bg rgba:0000/0000/4444/cccc
109
110 This requires XFT support, and the support of your X-server. If that
111 doesn't work for you, blame Xorg and Keith Packard. ARGB visuals
112 aren't there yet, no matter what they claim. Rxvt-Unicode contains
113 the neccessary bugfixes and workarounds for Xft and Xlib to make it
114 work, but that doesn't mean that your WM has the required kludges in
115 place.
116
117 4. Use xcompmgr and let it do the job:
118
119 xprop -frame -f _NET_WM_WINDOW_OPACITY 32c \
120 -set _NET_WM_WINDOW_OPACITY 0xc0000000
121
122 Then click on a window you want to make transparent. Replace
123 0xc0000000 by other values to change the degree of opacity. If it
124 doesn't work and your server crashes, you got to keep the pieces.
125
2 Isn't rxvt supposed to be small? Don't all those features bloat? 126 Isn't rxvt supposed to be small? Don't all those features bloat?
3 I often get asked about this, and I think, no, they didn't cause 127 I often get asked about this, and I think, no, they didn't cause
4 extra bloat. If you compare a minimal rxvt and a minimal urxvt, you 128 extra bloat. If you compare a minimal rxvt and a minimal urxvt, you
5 can see that the urxvt binary is larger (due to some encoding tables 129 can see that the urxvt binary is larger (due to some encoding tables
6 always being compiled in), but it actually uses less memory (RSS) 130 always being compiled in), but it actually uses less memory (RSS)
… …
35 159
36 Compared to e.g. Eterm (5112k), aterm (3132k) and xterm (4680k), 160 Compared to e.g. Eterm (5112k), aterm (3132k) and xterm (4680k),
37 this still fares rather well. And compared to some monsters like 161 this still fares rather well. And compared to some monsters like
38 gnome-terminal (21152k + extra 4204k in separate processes) or 162 gnome-terminal (21152k + extra 4204k in separate processes) or
39 konsole (22200k + extra 43180k in daemons that stay around after 163 konsole (22200k + extra 43180k in daemons that stay around after
40 exit, plus half aminute of startup time, including the hundreds of 164 exit, plus half a minute of startup time, including the hundreds of
41 warnings it spits out), it fares extremely well *g*. 165 warnings it spits out), it fares extremely well *g*.
42 166
43 Why C++, isn't that unportable/bloated/uncool? 167 Why C++, isn't that unportable/bloated/uncool?
44 Is this a question? :) It comes up very often. The simple answer is: 168 Is this a question? :) It comes up very often. The simple answer is:
45 I had to write it, and C++ allowed me to write and maintain it in a 169 I had to write it, and C++ allowed me to write and maintain it in a
… …
73 197
74 No large bloated libraries (of course, none were linked in 198 No large bloated libraries (of course, none were linked in
75 statically), except maybe libX11 :) 199 statically), except maybe libX11 :)
76 200
77 Does it support tabs, can I have a tabbed rxvt-unicode? 201 Does it support tabs, can I have a tabbed rxvt-unicode?
78 rxvt-unicode does not directly support tabs. It will work fine with 202 Beginning with version 7.3, there is a perl extension that
79 tabbing functionality of many window managers or similar tabbing 203 implements a simple tabbed terminal. It is installed by default, so
80 programs, and its embedding-features allow it to be embedded into 204 any of these should give you tabs:
81 other programs, as witnessed by doc/rxvt-tabbed or the upcoming 205
82 "Gtk2::URxvt" perl module, which features a tabbed urxvt (murxvt) 206 rxvt -pe tabbed
83 terminal as an example embedding application. 207
208 URxvt.perl-ext-common: default,tabbed
209
210 It will also work fine with tabbing functionality of many window
211 managers or similar tabbing programs, and its embedding-features
212 allow it to be embedded into other programs, as witnessed by
213 doc/rxvt-tabbed or the upcoming "Gtk2::URxvt" perl module, which
214 features a tabbed urxvt (murxvt) terminal as an example embedding
215 application.
84 216
85 How do I know which rxvt-unicode version I'm using? 217 How do I know which rxvt-unicode version I'm using?
86 The version number is displayed with the usage (-h). Also the escape 218 The version number is displayed with the usage (-h). Also the escape
87 sequence "ESC [ 8 n" sets the window title to the version number. 219 sequence "ESC [ 8 n" sets the window title to the version number.
88 When using the urxvtc client, the version displayed is that of the 220 When using the rxvtc client, the version displayed is that of the
89 daemon. 221 daemon.
90 222
91 I am using Debian GNU/Linux and have a problem... 223 I am using Debian GNU/Linux and have a problem...
92 The Debian GNU/Linux package of rxvt-unicode in sarge contains large 224 The Debian GNU/Linux package of rxvt-unicode in sarge contains large
93 patches that considerably change the behaviour of rxvt-unicode. 225 patches that considerably change the behaviour of rxvt-unicode (but
94 Before reporting a bug to the original rxvt-unicode author please 226 unfortunately this notice has been removed). Before reporting a bug
95 download and install the genuine version 227 to the original rxvt-unicode author please download and install the
96 (<http://software.schmorp.de#rxvt-unicode>) and try to reproduce the 228 genuine version (<http://software.schmorp.de#rxvt-unicode>) and try
97 problem. If you cannot, chances are that the problems are specific 229 to reproduce the problem. If you cannot, chances are that the
98 to Debian GNU/Linux, in which case it should be reported via the 230 problems are specific to Debian GNU/Linux, in which case it should
99 Debian Bug Tracking System (use "reportbug" to report the bug). 231 be reported via the Debian Bug Tracking System (use "reportbug" to
232 report the bug).
100 233
101 For other problems that also affect the Debian package, you can and 234 For other problems that also affect the Debian package, you can and
102 probably should use the Debian BTS, too, because, after all, it's 235 probably should use the Debian BTS, too, because, after all, it's
103 also a bug in the Debian version and it serves as a reminder for 236 also a bug in the Debian version and it serves as a reminder for
104 other users that might encounter the same issue. 237 other users that might encounter the same issue.
238
239 I am maintaining rxvt-unicode for distribution/OS XXX, any
240 recommendation?
241 You should build one binary with the default options. configure now
242 enables most useful options, and the trend goes to making them
243 runtime-switchable, too, so there is usually no drawback to enbaling
244 them, except higher disk and possibly memory usage. The perl
245 interpreter should be enabled, as important functionality (menus,
246 selection, likely more in the future) depends on it.
247
248 You should not overwrite the "perl-ext-common" snd "perl-ext"
249 resources system-wide (except maybe with "defaults"). This will
250 result in useful behaviour. If your distribution aims at low memory,
251 add an empty "perl-ext-common" resource to the app-defaults file.
252 This will keep the perl interpreter disabled until the user enables
253 it.
254
255 If you can/want build more binaries, I recommend building a minimal
256 one with "--disable-everything" (very useful) and a maximal one with
257 "--enable-everything" (less useful, it will be very big due to a lot
258 of encodings built-in that increase download times and are rarely
259 used).
260
261 I need to make it setuid/setgid to support utmp/ptys on my OS, is this
262 safe?
263 It should be, starting with release 7.1. You are encouraged to
264 properly install urxvt with privileges necessary for your OS now.
265
266 When rxvt-unicode detects that it runs setuid or setgid, it will
267 fork into a helper process for privileged operations (pty handling
268 on some systems, utmp/wtmp/lastlog handling on others) and drop
269 privileges immediately. This is much safer than most other terminals
270 that keep privileges while running (but is more relevant to urxvt,
271 as it contains things as perl interpreters, which might be "helpful"
272 to attackers).
273
274 This forking is done as the very first within main(), which is very
275 early and reduces possible bugs to initialisation code run before
276 main(), or things like the dynamic loader of your system, which
277 should result in very little risk.
105 278
106 When I log-in to another system it tells me about missing terminfo data? 279 When I log-in to another system it tells me about missing terminfo data?
107 The terminal description used by rxvt-unicode is not as widely 280 The terminal description used by rxvt-unicode is not as widely
108 available as that for xterm, or even rxvt (for which the same 281 available as that for xterm, or even rxvt (for which the same
109 problem often arises). 282 problem often arises).
… …
134 307
135 "tic" outputs some error when compiling the terminfo entry. 308 "tic" outputs some error when compiling the terminfo entry.
136 Most likely it's the empty definition for "enacs=". Just replace it 309 Most likely it's the empty definition for "enacs=". Just replace it
137 by "enacs=\E[0@" and try again. 310 by "enacs=\E[0@" and try again.
138 311
139 "bash"'s readline does not work correctly under urxvt. 312 "bash"'s readline does not work correctly under rxvt.
140 I need a termcap file entry. 313 I need a termcap file entry.
141 One reason you might want this is that some distributions or 314 One reason you might want this is that some distributions or
142 operating systems still compile some programs using the 315 operating systems still compile some programs using the
143 long-obsoleted termcap library (Fedora Core's bash is one example) 316 long-obsoleted termcap library (Fedora Core's bash is one example)
144 and rely on a termcap entry for "rxvt-unicode". 317 and rely on a termcap entry for "rxvt-unicode".
… …
255 indeed look correct. 428 indeed look correct.
256 429
257 In that case, select a font of your taste and add it to the font 430 In that case, select a font of your taste and add it to the font
258 list, e.g.: 431 list, e.g.:
259 432
260 urxvt -fn basefont,font2,font3... 433 rxvt -fn basefont,font2,font3...
261 434
262 When rxvt-unicode sees a character, it will first look at the base 435 When rxvt-unicode sees a character, it will first look at the base
263 font. If the base font does not contain the character, it will go to 436 font. If the base font does not contain the character, it will go to
264 the next font, and so on. Specifying your own fonts will also speed 437 the next font, and so on. Specifying your own fonts will also speed
265 up this search and use less resources within rxvt-unicode and the 438 up this search and use less resources within rxvt-unicode and the
… …
497 670
498 My input method wants <some encoding> but I want UTF-8, what can I do? 671 My input method wants <some encoding> but I want UTF-8, what can I do?
499 You can specify separate locales for the input method and the rest 672 You can specify separate locales for the input method and the rest
500 of the terminal, using the resource "imlocale": 673 of the terminal, using the resource "imlocale":
501 674
502 URxvt*imlocale: ja_JP.EUC-JP 675 URxvt.imlocale: ja_JP.EUC-JP
503 676
504 Now you can start your terminal with "LC_CTYPE=ja_JP.UTF-8" and 677 Now you can start your terminal with "LC_CTYPE=ja_JP.UTF-8" and
505 still use your input method. Please note, however, that you will not 678 still use your input method. Please note, however, that you will not
506 be able to input characters outside "EUC-JP" in a normal way then, 679 be able to input characters outside "EUC-JP" in a normal way then,
507 as your input method limits you. 680 as your input method limits you.
… …
550 Mouse cut/paste suddenly no longer works. 723 Mouse cut/paste suddenly no longer works.
551 Make sure that mouse reporting is actually turned off since killing 724 Make sure that mouse reporting is actually turned off since killing
552 some editors prematurely may leave the mouse in mouse report mode. 725 some editors prematurely may leave the mouse in mouse report mode.
553 I've heard that tcsh may use mouse reporting unless it otherwise 726 I've heard that tcsh may use mouse reporting unless it otherwise
554 specified. A quick check is to see if cut/paste works when the Alt 727 specified. A quick check is to see if cut/paste works when the Alt
555 or Shift keys are depressed. See urxvt(7) 728 or Shift keys are depressed.
556 729
557 What's with this bold/blink stuff? 730 What's with this bold/blink stuff?
558 If no bold colour is set via "colorBD:", bold will invert text using 731 If no bold colour is set via "colorBD:", bold will invert text using
559 the standard foreground colour. 732 the standard foreground colour.
560 733
… …
615 URxvt.color6: #73f7ff 788 URxvt.color6: #73f7ff
616 URxvt.color14: #73f7ff 789 URxvt.color14: #73f7ff
617 URxvt.color7: #e1dddd 790 URxvt.color7: #e1dddd
618 URxvt.color15: #e1dddd 791 URxvt.color15: #e1dddd
619 792
620 How can I start urxvtd in a race-free way? 793 How can I start rxvtd in a race-free way?
621 Try "urxvtd -f -o", which tells urxvtd to open the display, create 794 Try "rxvtd -f -o", which tells rxvtd to open the display, create the
622 the listening socket and then fork. 795 listening socket and then fork.
623 796
624 What's with the strange Backspace/Delete key behaviour? 797 What's with the strange Backspace/Delete key behaviour?
625 Assuming that the physical Backspace key corresponds to the 798 Assuming that the physical Backspace key corresponds to the
626 BackSpace keysym (not likely for Linux ... see the following 799 BackSpace keysym (not likely for Linux ... see the following
627 question) there are two standard values that can be used for 800 question) there are two standard values that can be used for
… …
640 813
641 For starting a new rxvt-unicode: 814 For starting a new rxvt-unicode:
642 815
643 # use Backspace = ^H 816 # use Backspace = ^H
644 $ stty erase ^H 817 $ stty erase ^H
645 $ urxvt 818 $ rxvt
646 819
647 # use Backspace = ^? 820 # use Backspace = ^?
648 $ stty erase ^? 821 $ stty erase ^?
649 $ urxvt 822 $ rxvt
650 823
651 Toggle with "ESC [ 36 h" / "ESC [ 36 l" as documented in urxvt(7). 824 Toggle with "ESC [ 36 h" / "ESC [ 36 l".
652 825
653 For an existing rxvt-unicode: 826 For an existing rxvt-unicode:
654 827
655 # use Backspace = ^H 828 # use Backspace = ^H
656 $ stty erase ^H 829 $ stty erase ^H
… …
682 There are some compile-time selections available via configure. 855 There are some compile-time selections available via configure.
683 Unless you have run "configure" with the "--disable-resources" 856 Unless you have run "configure" with the "--disable-resources"
684 option you can use the `keysym' resource to alter the keystrings 857 option you can use the `keysym' resource to alter the keystrings
685 associated with keysyms. 858 associated with keysyms.
686 859
687 Here's an example for a URxvt session started using "urxvt -name 860 Here's an example for a URxvt session started using "rxvt -name
688 URxvt" 861 URxvt"
689 862
690 URxvt.keysym.Home: \033[1~ 863 URxvt.keysym.Home: \033[1~
691 URxvt.keysym.End: \033[4~ 864 URxvt.keysym.End: \033[4~
692 URxvt.keysym.C-apostrophe: \033<C-'> 865 URxvt.keysym.C-apostrophe: \033<C-'>

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