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Revision 1.24 by root, Wed Jan 11 19:55:33 2006 UTC vs.
Revision 1.34 by root, Mon Jan 30 22:49:30 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 three 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 432 -fg grey90 -bg rgba:0000/0000/0000/c000
93
94 This requires XFT support, and support form 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.
99
2 Isn't rxvt supposed to be small? Don't all those features bloat? 100 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 101 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 102 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 103 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) 104 always being compiled in), but it actually uses less memory (RSS)
… …
73 171
74 No large bloated libraries (of course, none were linked in 172 No large bloated libraries (of course, none were linked in
75 statically), except maybe libX11 :) 173 statically), except maybe libX11 :)
76 174
77 Does it support tabs, can I have a tabbed rxvt-unicode? 175 Does it support tabs, can I have a tabbed rxvt-unicode?
78 rxvt-unicode does not directly support tabs. It will work fine with 176 Beginning with version 7.3, there is a perl extension that
79 tabbing functionality of many window managers or similar tabbing 177 implements a simple tabbed terminal. It is installed by default, so
80 programs, and its embedding-features allow it to be embedded into 178 any of these should give you tabs:
81 other programs, as witnessed by doc/rxvt-tabbed or the upcoming 179
82 "Gtk2::URxvt" perl module, which features a tabbed urxvt (murxvt) 180 rxvt -pe tabbed
83 terminal as an example embedding application. 181
182 URxvt.perl-ext-common: default,tabbed
183
184 It will also work fine with tabbing functionality of many window
185 managers or similar tabbing programs, and its embedding-features
186 allow it to be embedded into other programs, as witnessed by
187 doc/rxvt-tabbed or the upcoming "Gtk2::URxvt" perl module, which
188 features a tabbed urxvt (murxvt) terminal as an example embedding
189 application.
84 190
85 How do I know which rxvt-unicode version I'm using? 191 How do I know which rxvt-unicode version I'm using?
86 The version number is displayed with the usage (-h). Also the escape 192 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. 193 sequence "ESC [ 8 n" sets the window title to the version number.
88 When using the rxvtc client, the version displayed is that of the 194 When using the rxvtc client, the version displayed is that of the
89 daemon. 195 daemon.
90 196
91 I am using Debian GNU/Linux and have a problem... 197 I am using Debian GNU/Linux and have a problem...
92 The Debian GNU/Linux package of rxvt-unicode in sarge contains large 198 The Debian GNU/Linux package of rxvt-unicode in sarge contains large
93 patches that considerably change the behaviour of rxvt-unicode. 199 patches that considerably change the behaviour of rxvt-unicode (but
94 Before reporting a bug to the original rxvt-unicode author please 200 unfortunately this notice has been removed). Before reporting a bug
95 download and install the genuine version 201 to the original rxvt-unicode author please download and install the
96 (<http://software.schmorp.de#rxvt-unicode>) and try to reproduce the 202 genuine version (<http://software.schmorp.de#rxvt-unicode>) and try
97 problem. If you cannot, chances are that the problems are specific 203 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 204 problems are specific to Debian GNU/Linux, in which case it should
99 Debian Bug Tracking System (use "reportbug" to report the bug). 205 be reported via the Debian Bug Tracking System (use "reportbug" to
206 report the bug).
100 207
101 For other problems that also affect the Debian package, you can and 208 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 209 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 210 also a bug in the Debian version and it serves as a reminder for
104 other users that might encounter the same issue. 211 other users that might encounter the same issue.
… …
125 of encodings built-in that increase download times and are rarely 232 of encodings built-in that increase download times and are rarely
126 used). 233 used).
127 234
128 I need to make it setuid/setgid to support utmp/ptys on my OS, is this 235 I need to make it setuid/setgid to support utmp/ptys on my OS, is this
129 safe? 236 safe?
130 Likely not. While I honestly try to make it secure, and am probably 237 It should be, starting with release 7.1. You are encouraged to
131 not bad at it, I think it is simply unreasonable to expect all of 238 properly install urxvt with privileges necessary for your OS now.
132 freetype + fontconfig + xft + xlib + perl + ... + rxvt-unicode 239
133 itself to all be secure. Also, rxvt-unicode disables some options
134 when it detects that it runs setuid or setgid, which is not nice. 240 When rxvt-unicode detects that it runs setuid or setgid, it will
135 Besides, with the embedded perl interpreter the possibility for 241 fork into a helper process for privileged operations (pty handling
136 security problems easily multiplies. 242 on some systems, utmp/wtmp/lastlog handling on others) and drop
243 privileges immediately. This is much safer than most other terminals
244 that keep privileges while running (but is more relevant to urxvt,
245 as it contains things as perl interpreters, which might be "helpful"
246 to attackers).
137 247
138 Elevated privileges are only required for utmp and pty operations on 248 This forking is done as the very first within main(), which is very
139 some systems (for example, GNU/Linux doesn't need any extra 249 early and reduces possible bugs to initialisation code run before
140 privileges for ptys, but some need it for utmp support). It is 250 main(), or things like the dynamic loader of your system, which
141 planned to mvoe this into a forked handler process, but this is not 251 should result in very little risk.
142 yet done.
143
144 So, while setuid/setgid operation is supported and not a problem on
145 your typical single-user-no-other-logins unix desktop, always
146 remember that its an awful lot of code, most of which isn't checked
147 for security issues regularly.
148 252
149 When I log-in to another system it tells me about missing terminfo data? 253 When I log-in to another system it tells me about missing terminfo data?
150 The terminal description used by rxvt-unicode is not as widely 254 The terminal description used by rxvt-unicode is not as widely
151 available as that for xterm, or even rxvt (for which the same 255 available as that for xterm, or even rxvt (for which the same
152 problem often arises). 256 problem often arises).
… …
540 644
541 My input method wants <some encoding> but I want UTF-8, what can I do? 645 My input method wants <some encoding> but I want UTF-8, what can I do?
542 You can specify separate locales for the input method and the rest 646 You can specify separate locales for the input method and the rest
543 of the terminal, using the resource "imlocale": 647 of the terminal, using the resource "imlocale":
544 648
545 URxvt*imlocale: ja_JP.EUC-JP 649 URxvt.imlocale: ja_JP.EUC-JP
546 650
547 Now you can start your terminal with "LC_CTYPE=ja_JP.UTF-8" and 651 Now you can start your terminal with "LC_CTYPE=ja_JP.UTF-8" and
548 still use your input method. Please note, however, that you will not 652 still use your input method. Please note, however, that you will not
549 be able to input characters outside "EUC-JP" in a normal way then, 653 be able to input characters outside "EUC-JP" in a normal way then,
550 as your input method limits you. 654 as your input method limits you.
… …
593 Mouse cut/paste suddenly no longer works. 697 Mouse cut/paste suddenly no longer works.
594 Make sure that mouse reporting is actually turned off since killing 698 Make sure that mouse reporting is actually turned off since killing
595 some editors prematurely may leave the mouse in mouse report mode. 699 some editors prematurely may leave the mouse in mouse report mode.
596 I've heard that tcsh may use mouse reporting unless it otherwise 700 I've heard that tcsh may use mouse reporting unless it otherwise
597 specified. A quick check is to see if cut/paste works when the Alt 701 specified. A quick check is to see if cut/paste works when the Alt
598 or Shift keys are depressed. See rxvt(7) 702 or Shift keys are depressed.
599 703
600 What's with this bold/blink stuff? 704 What's with this bold/blink stuff?
601 If no bold colour is set via "colorBD:", bold will invert text using 705 If no bold colour is set via "colorBD:", bold will invert text using
602 the standard foreground colour. 706 the standard foreground colour.
603 707
… …
689 793
690 # use Backspace = ^? 794 # use Backspace = ^?
691 $ stty erase ^? 795 $ stty erase ^?
692 $ rxvt 796 $ rxvt
693 797
694 Toggle with "ESC [ 36 h" / "ESC [ 36 l" as documented in rxvt(7). 798 Toggle with "ESC [ 36 h" / "ESC [ 36 l".
695 799
696 For an existing rxvt-unicode: 800 For an existing rxvt-unicode:
697 801
698 # use Backspace = ^H 802 # use Backspace = ^H
699 $ stty erase ^H 803 $ stty erase ^H

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