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Revision 1.65 by root, Thu Jan 19 13:04:12 2012 UTC vs.
Revision 1.74 by root, Sat Jul 3 04:04:12 2021 UTC

1RXVT-UNICODE/URXVT FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 1RXVT-UNICODE/URXVT FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
2 Meta, Features & Commandline Issues 2 Meta, Features & Commandline Issues
3 My question isn't answered here, can I ask a human? 3 My question isn't answered here, can I ask a human?
4 Before sending me mail, you could go to IRC: "irc.freenode.net", channel 4 Before sending me mail, you could go to IRC: "irc.libera.chat", channel
5 "#rxvt-unicode" has some rxvt-unicode enthusiasts that might be 5 "#rxvt-unicode" has some rxvt-unicode enthusiasts that might be
6 interested in learning about new and exciting problems (but not FAQs :). 6 interested in learning about new and exciting problems (but not FAQs :).
7 7
8 I use Gentoo, and I have a problem... 8 I use Gentoo, and I have a problem...
9 There are three big problems with Gentoo Linux: first of all, most if 9 There are two big problems with Gentoo Linux: first, most if not all
10 not all Gentoo systems are completely broken (missing or mismatched 10 Gentoo systems are completely broken (missing or mismatched header
11 header files, broken compiler etc. are just the tip of the iceberg); 11 files, broken compiler etc. are just the tip of the iceberg); secondly,
12 secondly, the Gentoo maintainer thinks it is a good idea to add broken 12 it should be called Gentoo GNU/Linux.
13 patches to the code; and lastly, it should be called Gentoo GNU/Linux.
14 13
15 For these reasons, it is impossible to support rxvt-unicode on Gentoo. 14 For these reasons, it is impossible to support rxvt-unicode on Gentoo.
16 Problems appearing on Gentoo systems will usually simply be ignored 15 Problems appearing on Gentoo systems will usually simply be ignored
17 unless they can be reproduced on non-Gentoo systems. 16 unless they can be reproduced on non-Gentoo systems.
18 17
69 This tries to create a new terminal, and if fails with exit status 2, 68 This tries to create a new terminal, and if fails with exit status 2,
70 meaning it couldn't connect to the daemon, it will start the daemon and 69 meaning it couldn't connect to the daemon, it will start the daemon and
71 re-run the command. Subsequent invocations of the script will re-use the 70 re-run the command. Subsequent invocations of the script will re-use the
72 existing daemon. 71 existing daemon.
73 72
73 Another option is to use systemd socket-based activation (see
74 systemd.socket(5)). Here is an example of a service unit file and of a
75 socket unit file for the default socket path:
76
77 urxvtd.service
78 [Unit]
79 Description=urxvt terminal daemon
80 Requires=urxvtd.socket
81
82 [Service]
83 ExecStart=/usr/bin/urxvtd -o
84
85 urxvtd.socket
86 [Unit]
87 Description=urxvt terminal daemon socket
88
89 [Socket]
90 ListenStream=%h/.urxvt/urxvtd-%H
91
92 [Install]
93 WantedBy=sockets.target
94
74 How do I distinguish whether I'm running rxvt-unicode or a regular 95 How do I distinguish whether I'm running rxvt-unicode or a regular
75xterm? I need this to decide about setting colours etc. 96xterm? I need this to decide about setting colours etc.
76 The original rxvt and rxvt-unicode always export the variable 97 The original rxvt and rxvt-unicode always export the variable
77 "COLORTERM", so you can check and see if that is set. Note that several 98 "COLORTERM", so you can check and see if that is set. Note that several
78 programs, JED, slrn, Midnight Commander automatically check this 99 programs, JED, slrn, Midnight Commander automatically check this
91 112
92 # Bourne/Korn/POSIX family of shells: 113 # Bourne/Korn/POSIX family of shells:
93 [ ${TERM:-foo} = foo ] && TERM=xterm # assume an xterm if we don't know 114 [ ${TERM:-foo} = foo ] && TERM=xterm # assume an xterm if we don't know
94 if [ ${TERM:-foo} = xterm ]; then 115 if [ ${TERM:-foo} = xterm ]; then
95 stty -icanon -echo min 0 time 15 # see if enhanced rxvt or not 116 stty -icanon -echo min 0 time 15 # see if enhanced rxvt or not
96 echo -n '^[Z' 117 printf "\eZ"
97 read term_id 118 read term_id
98 stty icanon echo 119 stty icanon echo
99 if [ ""${term_id} = '^[[?1;2C' -a ${DISPLAY:-foo} = foo ]; then 120 if [ ""${term_id} = '^[[?1;2C' -a ${DISPLAY:-foo} = foo ]; then
100 echo -n '^[[7n' # query the rxvt we are in for the DISPLAY string 121 printf '\e[7n' # query the rxvt we are in for the DISPLAY string
101 read DISPLAY # set it in our local shell 122 read DISPLAY # set it in our local shell
102 fi 123 fi
103 fi 124 fi
104 125
105 How do I compile the manual pages on my own? 126 How do I compile the manual pages on my own?
106 You need to have a recent version of perl installed as /usr/bin/perl, 127 You need to have a recent version of perl installed as /usr/bin/perl,
206 your picture with gimp or any other tool: 227 your picture with gimp or any other tool:
207 228
208 convert wallpaper.jpg -blur 20x20 -modulate 30 background.jpg 229 convert wallpaper.jpg -blur 20x20 -modulate 30 background.jpg
209 urxvt -pixmap "background.jpg;:root" 230 urxvt -pixmap "background.jpg;:root"
210 231
211 That works. If you think it doesn't, you lack libAfterImage or 232 That works. If you think it doesn't, you lack GDK-PixBuf support, or you
212 GDK-PixBuf support, or you are unable to read. 233 are unable to read.
213 234
214 3. Use an ARGB visual: 235 3. Use an ARGB visual:
215 236
216 urxvt -depth 32 -fg grey90 -bg rgba:0000/0000/4444/cccc 237 urxvt -depth 32 -fg grey90 -bg rgba:0000/0000/4444/cccc
217 238
429 We are working on it, in the meantime, as a workaround, use something 450 We are working on it, in the meantime, as a workaround, use something
430 like: 451 like:
431 452
432 urxvt -b 600 -geometry 20x1 -e sh -c 'mplayer -wid $WINDOWID file...' 453 urxvt -b 600 -geometry 20x1 -e sh -c 'mplayer -wid $WINDOWID file...'
433 454
455 Why is the cursor now blinking in emacs/vi/...?
456 This is likely caused by your editor/program's use of the "cvvis"
457 terminfo capability. Emacs uses it by default, as well as some versions
458 of vi and possibly other programs.
459
460 In emacs, you can switch that off by adding this to your ".emacs" file:
461
462 (setq visible-cursor nil)
463
464 For other programs, if they do not have an option, your have to remove
465 the "cvvis" capability from the terminfo description.
466
467 When urxvt first added the blinking cursor option, it didn't add a
468 "cvvis" capability, which served no purpose before. Version 9.21
469 introduced "cvvis" (and the ability to control blinking independent of
470 cursor shape) for compatibility with other terminals, which
471 traditionally use a blinking cursor for "cvvis". This also reflects the
472 intent of programs such as emacs, who expect "cvvis" to enable a
473 blinking cursor.
474
434 Keyboard, Mouse & User Interaction 475 Keyboard, Mouse & User Interaction
435 The new selection selects pieces that are too big, how can I select single words? 476 The new selection selects pieces that are too big, how can I select single words?
436 If you want to select e.g. alphanumeric words, you can use the following 477 If you want to select e.g. alphanumeric words, you can use the following
437 setting: 478 setting:
438 479
463 URxvt.perl-ext-common: default,-selection-popup,-option-popup 504 URxvt.perl-ext-common: default,-selection-popup,-option-popup
464 505
465 This will keep the default extensions, but disable the two popup 506 This will keep the default extensions, but disable the two popup
466 extensions. Some extensions can also be configured, for example, 507 extensions. Some extensions can also be configured, for example,
467 scrollback search mode is triggered by M-s. You can move it to any other 508 scrollback search mode is triggered by M-s. You can move it to any other
468 combination either by setting the searchable-scrollback resource: 509 combination by adding a keysym resource that binds the desired
510 combination to the "start" action of "searchable-scrollback" and another
511 one that binds M-s to the "builtin:" action:
469 512
470 URxvt.searchable-scrollback: CM-s 513 URxvt.keysym.CM-s: searchable-scrollback:start
514 URxvt.keysym.M-s: builtin:
471 515
472 The cursor moves when selecting text in the current input line, how do I switch this off? 516 The cursor moves when selecting text in the current input line, how do I switch this off?
473 See next entry. 517 See next entry.
474 518
475 During rlogin/ssh/telnet/etc. sessions, clicking near the cursor outputs strange escape sequences, how do I fix this? 519 During rlogin/ssh/telnet/etc. sessions, clicking near the cursor outputs strange escape sequences, how do I fix this?
482 You can permanently switch this feature off by disabling the "readline" 526 You can permanently switch this feature off by disabling the "readline"
483 extension: 527 extension:
484 528
485 URxvt.perl-ext-common: default,-readline 529 URxvt.perl-ext-common: default,-readline
486 530
487 My numerical keypad acts weird and generates differing output? 531 My numeric keypad acts weird and generates differing output?
488 Some Debian GNUL/Linux users seem to have this problem, although no 532 Some Debian GNU/Linux users seem to have this problem, although no
489 specific details were reported so far. It is possible that this is 533 specific details were reported so far. It is possible that this is
490 caused by the wrong "TERM" setting, although the details of whether and 534 caused by the wrong "TERM" setting, although the details of whether and
491 how this can happen are unknown, as "TERM=rxvt" should offer a 535 how this can happen are unknown, as "TERM=rxvt" should offer a
492 compatible keymap. See the answer to the previous question, and please 536 compatible keymap. See the answer to the previous question, and please
493 report if that helped. 537 report if that helped.
494 538
495 My Compose (Multi_key) key is no longer working. 539 My Compose (Multi_key) key is no longer working.
496 The most common causes for this are that either your locale is not set 540 The most common causes for this are that either your locale is not set
497 correctly, or you specified a preeditStyle that is not supported by your 541 correctly, or you specified a preeditType that is not supported by your
498 input method. For example, if you specified OverTheSpot and your input 542 input method. For example, if you specified OverTheSpot and your input
499 method (e.g. the default input method handling Compose keys) does not 543 method (e.g. the default input method handling Compose keys) does not
500 support this (for instance because it is not visual), then rxvt-unicode 544 support this (for instance because it is not visual), then rxvt-unicode
501 will continue without an input method. 545 will continue without an input method.
502 546
503 In this case either do not specify a preeditStyle or specify more than 547 In this case either do not specify a preeditType or specify more than
504 one pre-edit style, such as OverTheSpot,Root,None. 548 one pre-edit style, such as OverTheSpot,Root,None.
505 549
506 If it still doesn't work, then maybe your input method doesn't support 550 If it still doesn't work, then maybe your input method doesn't support
507 compose sequences - to fall back to the built-in one, make sure you 551 compose sequences - to fall back to the built-in one, make sure you
508 don't specify an input method via "-im" or "XMODIFIERS". 552 don't specify an input method via "-im" or "XMODIFIERS".
532 It is possible to toggle between "^H" and "^?" with the DECBKM private 576 It is possible to toggle between "^H" and "^?" with the DECBKM private
533 mode: 577 mode:
534 578
535 # use Backspace = ^H 579 # use Backspace = ^H
536 $ stty erase ^H 580 $ stty erase ^H
537 $ echo -n "^[[?67h" 581 $ printf "\e[?67h"
538 582
539 # use Backspace = ^? 583 # use Backspace = ^?
540 $ stty erase ^? 584 $ stty erase ^?
541 $ echo -n "^[[?67l" 585 $ printf "\e[?67l"
542 586
543 This helps satisfy some of the Backspace discrepancies that occur, but 587 This helps satisfy some of the Backspace discrepancies that occur, but
544 if you use Backspace = "^H", make sure that the termcap/terminfo value 588 if you use Backspace = "^H", make sure that the termcap/terminfo value
545 properly reflects that. 589 properly reflects that.
546 590
596 time into customising your terminal. To get you started, here is the 640 time into customising your terminal. To get you started, here is the
597 author's .Xdefaults entries, with comments on what they do. It's 641 author's .Xdefaults entries, with comments on what they do. It's
598 certainly not *typical*, but what's typical... 642 certainly not *typical*, but what's typical...
599 643
600 URxvt.cutchars: "()*,<>[]{}|' 644 URxvt.cutchars: "()*,<>[]{}|'
601 URxvt.print-pipe: cat >/tmp/xxx 645 URxvt.print-pipe: cat >/some/path
602 646
603 These are just for testing stuff. 647 These are just for testing stuff.
604 648
605 URxvt.imLocale: ja_JP.UTF-8 649 URxvt.imLocale: ja_JP.UTF-8
606 URxvt.preeditType: OnTheSpot,None 650 URxvt.preeditType: OnTheSpot,None
774 818
775 REMOTE=remotesystem.domain 819 REMOTE=remotesystem.domain
776 infocmp rxvt-unicode | ssh $REMOTE "mkdir -p .terminfo && cat >/tmp/ti && tic /tmp/ti" 820 infocmp rxvt-unicode | ssh $REMOTE "mkdir -p .terminfo && cat >/tmp/ti && tic /tmp/ti"
777 821
778 One some systems you might need to set $TERMINFO to the full path of 822 One some systems you might need to set $TERMINFO to the full path of
779 $HOME/.terminfo for this to work. Debian systems have a broken tic which 823 $HOME/.terminfo for this to work.
780 will not be able to overwrite the existing rxvt-unicode terminfo entry -
781 you might have to manually delete all traces of rxvt-unicode* from
782 /etc/terminfo.
783 824
784 If you cannot or do not want to do this, then you can simply set 825 If you cannot or do not want to do this, then you can simply set
785 "TERM=rxvt" or even "TERM=xterm", and live with the small number of 826 "TERM=rxvt" or even "TERM=xterm", and live with the small number of
786 problems arising, which includes wrong keymapping, less and different 827 problems arising, which includes wrong keymapping, less and different
787 colours and some refresh errors in fullscreen applications. It's a nice 828 colours and some refresh errors in fullscreen applications. It's a nice
809 See next entry. 850 See next entry.
810 851
811 I need a termcap file entry. 852 I need a termcap file entry.
812 One reason you might want this is that some distributions or operating 853 One reason you might want this is that some distributions or operating
813 systems still compile some programs using the long-obsoleted termcap 854 systems still compile some programs using the long-obsoleted termcap
814 library (Fedora Core's bash is one example) and rely on a termcap entry 855 library (Fedora's bash is one example) and rely on a termcap entry for
815 for "rxvt-unicode". 856 "rxvt-unicode".
816 857
817 You could use rxvt's termcap entry with reasonable results in many 858 You could use rxvt's termcap entry with reasonable results in many
818 cases. You can also create a termcap entry by using terminfo's infocmp 859 cases. You can also create a termcap entry by using terminfo's infocmp
819 program like this: 860 program like this:
820 861
843 Why doesn't vim/emacs etc. make use of italic? 884 Why doesn't vim/emacs etc. make use of italic?
844 See next entry. 885 See next entry.
845 886
846 Why are the secondary screen-related options not working properly? 887 Why are the secondary screen-related options not working properly?
847 Make sure you are using "TERM=rxvt-unicode". Some pre-packaged 888 Make sure you are using "TERM=rxvt-unicode". Some pre-packaged
848 distributions (most notably Debian GNU/Linux) break rxvt-unicode by 889 distributions break rxvt-unicode by setting "TERM" to "rxvt", which
849 setting "TERM" to "rxvt", which doesn't have these extra features. 890 doesn't have these extra features. Unfortunately, some of these
850 Unfortunately, some of these (most notably, again, Debian GNU/Linux)
851 furthermore fail to even install the "rxvt-unicode" terminfo file, so 891 furthermore fail to even install the "rxvt-unicode" terminfo file, so
852 you will need to install it on your own (See the question When I log-in 892 you will need to install it on your own (See the question When I log-in
853 to another system it tells me about missing terminfo data? on how to do 893 to another system it tells me about missing terminfo data? on how to do
854 this). 894 this).
855 895
966 For scim, use "@im=SCIM". You can see what input method servers are 1006 For scim, use "@im=SCIM". You can see what input method servers are
967 running with this command: 1007 running with this command:
968 1008
969 xprop -root XIM_SERVERS 1009 xprop -root XIM_SERVERS
970 1010
971
972
973 My input method wants <some encoding> but I want UTF-8, what can I do? 1011 My input method wants <some encoding> but I want UTF-8, what can I do?
974 You can specify separate locales for the input method and the rest of 1012 You can specify separate locales for the input method and the rest of
975 the terminal, using the resource "imlocale": 1013 the terminal, using the resource "imlocale":
976 1014
977 URxvt.imlocale: ja_JP.EUC-JP 1015 URxvt.imlocale: ja_JP.EUC-JP
990 cannot be completely avoided even if both sides cooperate. 1028 cannot be completely avoided even if both sides cooperate.
991 1029
992 So the only workaround is not to kill your Input Method Servers. 1030 So the only workaround is not to kill your Input Method Servers.
993 1031
994 Operating Systems / Package Maintaining 1032 Operating Systems / Package Maintaining
995 I am using Debian GNU/Linux and have a problem...
996 The Debian GNU/Linux package of rxvt-unicode in sarge contains large
997 patches that considerably change the behaviour of rxvt-unicode (but
998 unfortunately this notice has been removed). Before reporting a bug to
999 the original rxvt-unicode author please download and install the genuine
1000 version (<http://software.schmorp.de/pkg/rxvt-unicode.html>) and try to
1001 reproduce the problem. If you cannot, chances are that the problems are
1002 specific to Debian GNU/Linux, in which case it should be reported via
1003 the Debian Bug Tracking System (use "reportbug" to report the bug).
1004
1005 For other problems that also affect the Debian package, you can and
1006 probably should use the Debian BTS, too, because, after all, it's also a
1007 bug in the Debian version and it serves as a reminder for other users
1008 that might encounter the same issue.
1009
1010 I am maintaining rxvt-unicode for distribution/OS XXX, any recommendation? 1033 I am maintaining rxvt-unicode for distribution/OS XXX, any recommendation?
1011 You should build one binary with the default options. configure now 1034 You should build one binary with the default options. configure now
1012 enables most useful options, and the trend goes to making them 1035 enables most useful options, and the trend goes to making them
1013 runtime-switchable, too, so there is usually no drawback to enabling 1036 runtime-switchable, too, so there is usually no drawback to enabling
1014 them, except higher disk and possibly memory usage. The perl interpreter 1037 them, except higher disk and possibly memory usage. The perl interpreter

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