NAME

       xsetroot - root window parameter setting utility for X

SYNOPSIS

       xsetroot  [-help]  [-version]  [-def]  [-display  display]  [-cursor  cursorfile  maskfile] [-cursor_name
       cursorfontname] [-xcf cursorfile cursorsize] [-bitmap filename | -mod x y | -gray | -grey | -solid color]
       [-bg color] [-fg color] [-rv] [-name string] [-d display]

DESCRIPTION

       The  xsetroot  program  allows  you  to  tailor  the  appearance  of  the background ("root") window on a
       workstation display running X.  Normally, you experiment with xsetroot until you find a personalized look
       that  you  like,  then put the xsetroot command that produces it into your X startup file.  If no options
       are specified, or if -def is specified, the window is reset to its default state.  The -def option can be
       specified  along  with  other  options  and  only  the non-specified characteristics will be reset to the
       default state.

       Only one of the background color/tiling changing options (-solid, -gray, -grey, -bitmap, and -mod) may be
       specified at a time.

OPTIONS

       The various options are as follows:

       -help  Print a usage message and exit.

       -version
              Print a version message and exit.

       -def, -default
              Reset unspecified attributes to the default values.  (Restores the background to the familiar gray
              mesh and the cursor to the hollow x shape.)

       -cursor cursorfile maskfile
              This lets you change the pointer cursor to whatever you want when the pointer cursor is outside of
              any  window.   Cursor  and  mask  files  are  bitmaps  (little pictures), and can be made with the
              bitmap(1) program.  You probably want the mask file to be all black until you get used to the  way
              masks work.

       -cursor_name cursorfontname
              This  lets  you  change  the  pointer  cursor to one of the standard cursors from the cursor font.
              Refer to appendix B of the X protocol for the names (except that the XC_ prefix is elided for this
              option).

       -xcf cursorfile cursorsize
              This  lets  you  change  the  pointer  cursor  to  one  loaded  from an Xcursor file as defined by
              libXcursor, at the specified size.

       -bitmap filename
              Use the bitmap specified in the file to set the window pattern.  You  can  make  your  own  bitmap
              files  (little  pictures)  using  the bitmap(1) program.  The entire background will be made up of
              repeated "tiles" of the bitmap.

       -mod x y
              This is used if you want a plaid-like grid pattern on your screen.  x and y are  integers  ranging
              from 1 to 16.  Try the different combinations.  Zero and negative numbers are taken as 1.

       -gray, -grey
              Make the entire background gray (Easier on the eyes).

       -bg, -background color
              Use ``color'' as the background color.

       -fg, -foreground color
              Use  ``color''  as  the foreground color.  Foreground and background colors are meaningful only in
              combination with -cursor, -bitmap, or -mod.

       -rv, -reverse
              This exchanges the foreground and background colors.  Normally the foreground color is  black  and
              the background color is white.

       -solid color
              This sets the background of the root window to the specified color.  This option is only useful on
              color servers.

       -name string
              Set the name of the root window to ``string''.  There is no default  value.   Usually  a  name  is
              assigned  to  a window so that the window manager can use a text representation when the window is
              iconified.  This option is unused since you can't iconify the background.

       -d, -display display
              Specifies the server to connect to; see X(7).

SEE ALSO

       X(7), xset(1), xrdb(1), Xcursor(3)

AUTHOR

       Mark Lillibridge, MIT Project Athena