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Revision 1.27 by root, Thu Jan 12 23:16:31 2006 UTC vs.
Revision 1.36 by root, Tue Jan 31 00:53:49 2006 UTC

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36 scrollback search mode is triggered by M-s. You can move it to any 36 scrollback search mode is triggered by M-s. You can move it to any
37 other combination either by setting the searchable-scrollback 37 other combination either by setting the searchable-scrollback
38 resource: 38 resource:
39 39
40 URxvt.searchable-scrollback: CM-s 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.
41 125
42 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?
43 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
44 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
45 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
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113 197
114 No large bloated libraries (of course, none were linked in 198 No large bloated libraries (of course, none were linked in
115 statically), except maybe libX11 :) 199 statically), except maybe libX11 :)
116 200
117 Does it support tabs, can I have a tabbed rxvt-unicode? 201 Does it support tabs, can I have a tabbed rxvt-unicode?
118 rxvt-unicode does not directly support tabs. It will work fine with 202 Beginning with version 7.3, there is a perl extension that
119 tabbing functionality of many window managers or similar tabbing 203 implements a simple tabbed terminal. It is installed by default, so
120 programs, and its embedding-features allow it to be embedded into 204 any of these should give you tabs:
121 other programs, as witnessed by doc/rxvt-tabbed or the upcoming 205
122 "Gtk2::URxvt" perl module, which features a tabbed urxvt (murxvt) 206 rxvt -pe tabbed
123 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.
124 216
125 How do I know which rxvt-unicode version I'm using? 217 How do I know which rxvt-unicode version I'm using?
126 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
127 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.
128 When using the rxvtc client, the version displayed is that of the 220 When using the rxvtc client, the version displayed is that of the
129 daemon. 221 daemon.
130 222
131 I am using Debian GNU/Linux and have a problem... 223 I am using Debian GNU/Linux and have a problem...
132 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
133 patches that considerably change the behaviour of rxvt-unicode. 225 patches that considerably change the behaviour of rxvt-unicode (but
134 Before reporting a bug to the original rxvt-unicode author please 226 unfortunately this notice has been removed). Before reporting a bug
135 download and install the genuine version 227 to the original rxvt-unicode author please download and install the
136 (<http://software.schmorp.de#rxvt-unicode>) and try to reproduce the 228 genuine version (<http://software.schmorp.de#rxvt-unicode>) and try
137 problem. If you cannot, chances are that the problems are specific 229 to reproduce the problem. If you cannot, chances are that the
138 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
139 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).
140 233
141 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
142 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
143 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
144 other users that might encounter the same issue. 237 other users that might encounter the same issue.
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165 of encodings built-in that increase download times and are rarely 258 of encodings built-in that increase download times and are rarely
166 used). 259 used).
167 260
168 I need to make it setuid/setgid to support utmp/ptys on my OS, is this 261 I need to make it setuid/setgid to support utmp/ptys on my OS, is this
169 safe? 262 safe?
170 Likely not. While I honestly try to make it secure, and am probably 263 It should be, starting with release 7.1. You are encouraged to
171 not bad at it, I think it is simply unreasonable to expect all of 264 properly install urxvt with privileges necessary for your OS now.
172 freetype + fontconfig + xft + xlib + perl + ... + rxvt-unicode 265
173 itself to all be secure. Also, rxvt-unicode disables some options
174 when it detects that it runs setuid or setgid, which is not nice. 266 When rxvt-unicode detects that it runs setuid or setgid, it will
175 Besides, with the embedded perl interpreter the possibility for 267 fork into a helper process for privileged operations (pty handling
176 security problems easily multiplies. 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).
177 273
178 Elevated privileges are only required for utmp and pty operations on 274 This forking is done as the very first within main(), which is very
179 some systems (for example, GNU/Linux doesn't need any extra 275 early and reduces possible bugs to initialisation code run before
180 privileges for ptys, but some need it for utmp support). It is 276 main(), or things like the dynamic loader of your system, which
181 planned to mvoe this into a forked handler process, but this is not 277 should result in very little risk.
182 yet done.
183
184 So, while setuid/setgid operation is supported and not a problem on
185 your typical single-user-no-other-logins unix desktop, always
186 remember that its an awful lot of code, most of which isn't checked
187 for security issues regularly.
188 278
189 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?
190 The terminal description used by rxvt-unicode is not as widely 280 The terminal description used by rxvt-unicode is not as widely
191 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
192 problem often arises). 282 problem often arises).
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580 670
581 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?
582 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
583 of the terminal, using the resource "imlocale": 673 of the terminal, using the resource "imlocale":
584 674
585 URxvt*imlocale: ja_JP.EUC-JP 675 URxvt.imlocale: ja_JP.EUC-JP
586 676
587 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
588 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
589 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,
590 as your input method limits you. 680 as your input method limits you.
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633 Mouse cut/paste suddenly no longer works. 723 Mouse cut/paste suddenly no longer works.
634 Make sure that mouse reporting is actually turned off since killing 724 Make sure that mouse reporting is actually turned off since killing
635 some editors prematurely may leave the mouse in mouse report mode. 725 some editors prematurely may leave the mouse in mouse report mode.
636 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
637 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
638 or Shift keys are depressed. See rxvt(7) 728 or Shift keys are depressed.
639 729
640 What's with this bold/blink stuff? 730 What's with this bold/blink stuff?
641 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
642 the standard foreground colour. 732 the standard foreground colour.
643 733
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729 819
730 # use Backspace = ^? 820 # use Backspace = ^?
731 $ stty erase ^? 821 $ stty erase ^?
732 $ rxvt 822 $ rxvt
733 823
734 Toggle with "ESC [ 36 h" / "ESC [ 36 l" as documented in rxvt(7). 824 Toggle with "ESC [ 36 h" / "ESC [ 36 l".
735 825
736 For an existing rxvt-unicode: 826 For an existing rxvt-unicode:
737 827
738 # use Backspace = ^H 828 # use Backspace = ^H
739 $ stty erase ^H 829 $ stty erase ^H

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