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Revision 1.22 by root, Mon Jan 9 01:54:43 2006 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 rxvtc 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.
… …
125 of encodings built-in that increase download times and are rarely 258 of encodings built-in that increase download times and are rarely
126 used). 259 used).
127 260
128 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
129 safe? 262 safe?
130 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
131 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.
132 freetype + fontconfig + xft + xlib + ... + rxvt-unicode itself to
133 all be secure. Also, rxvt-unicode disables some options when it
134 detects that it runs setuid or setgid, which is not nice.
135 265
136 Elevated privileges are only required for utmp and pty operations on 266 When rxvt-unicode detects that it runs setuid or setgid, it will
137 some systems (for example, GNU/Linux doesn't need any extra 267 fork into a helper process for privileged operations (pty handling
138 privileges for ptys, but some need it for utmp support). If 268 on some systems, utmp/wtmp/lastlog handling on others) and drop
139 rxvt-unicode doesn't support the library/setuid helper that your OS 269 privileges immediately. This is much safer than most other terminals
140 needs I'll be happy to assist you in implementing support for it. 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).
141 273
142 So, while setuid/setgid operation is supported and not a problem on 274 This forking is done as the very first within main(), which is very
143 your typical single-user-no-other-logins unix desktop, always 275 early and reduces possible bugs to initialisation code run before
144 remember that its an awful lot of code, most of which isn't checked 276 main(), or things like the dynamic loader of your system, which
145 for security issues regularly. 277 should result in very little risk.
146 278
147 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?
148 The terminal description used by rxvt-unicode is not as widely 280 The terminal description used by rxvt-unicode is not as widely
149 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
150 problem often arises). 282 problem often arises).
… …
538 670
539 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?
540 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
541 of the terminal, using the resource "imlocale": 673 of the terminal, using the resource "imlocale":
542 674
543 URxvt*imlocale: ja_JP.EUC-JP 675 URxvt.imlocale: ja_JP.EUC-JP
544 676
545 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
546 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
547 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,
548 as your input method limits you. 680 as your input method limits you.
… …
591 Mouse cut/paste suddenly no longer works. 723 Mouse cut/paste suddenly no longer works.
592 Make sure that mouse reporting is actually turned off since killing 724 Make sure that mouse reporting is actually turned off since killing
593 some editors prematurely may leave the mouse in mouse report mode. 725 some editors prematurely may leave the mouse in mouse report mode.
594 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
595 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
596 or Shift keys are depressed. See rxvt(7) 728 or Shift keys are depressed.
597 729
598 What's with this bold/blink stuff? 730 What's with this bold/blink stuff?
599 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
600 the standard foreground colour. 732 the standard foreground colour.
601 733
… …
687 819
688 # use Backspace = ^? 820 # use Backspace = ^?
689 $ stty erase ^? 821 $ stty erase ^?
690 $ rxvt 822 $ rxvt
691 823
692 Toggle with "ESC [ 36 h" / "ESC [ 36 l" as documented in rxvt(7). 824 Toggle with "ESC [ 36 h" / "ESC [ 36 l".
693 825
694 For an existing rxvt-unicode: 826 For an existing rxvt-unicode:
695 827
696 # use Backspace = ^H 828 # use Backspace = ^H
697 $ stty erase ^H 829 $ stty erase ^H

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