freebsd-dev/lib/libncurses/ncurses.3

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.TH ncurses 3 ""
.ds n 5
.ds d @TERMINFO@
.SH NAME
\fBncurses\fR - CRT screen handling and optimization package
.SH SYNOPSIS
\fB#include <ncurses.h>\fR
.br
.SH DESCRIPTION
The \fBncurses\fR library routines give the user a terminal-independent
method of updating character screens with reasonable optimization.
The \fBncurses\fR routines emulate the \fBcurses\fR(3) library of System V
Release 4 UNIX, but is freely redistributable in source form. Differences from
the SVr4 curses are described in the BUGS sections of individual man pages.
There are only few of these, and as ncurses matures they will become fewer
still.
A program using these routines must be linked with the \fB-lncurses\fR option,
or (if they have been generated) with one of the debugging libraries
\fB-ldcurses\fR or \fB-lpcurses\fR. The dcurses library generates trace logs
that describe curses actions; the pcurses library supports profiling.
The \fBncurses\fR package supports: overall screen, window and pad
manipulation; output to windows and pads; reading terminal input; control over
terminal and \fBncurses\fR input and output options; environment query
routines; color manipulation; use of soft label keys; terminfo capabilities;
and access to low-level \fBncurses\fR routines.
To initialize the routines, the routine \fBinitscr\fR or \fBnewterm\fR
must be called before any of the other routines that deal with windows
and screens are used. The routine \fBendwin\fR must be called before
exiting. To get character-at-a-time input without echoing (most
interactive, screen oriented programs want this), the following
sequence should be used:
\fBinitscr(); cbreak(); noecho();\fR
Most programs would additionally use the sequence:
\fBnonl(); intrflush(stdscr,FALSE); keypad(stdscr,TRUE);\fR
Before a \fBncurses\fR program is run, the tab stops of the terminal
should be set and its initialization strings, if defined, must be
output. This can be done by executing the \fBtput init\fR command
after the shell environment variable \fBTERM\fR has been exported.
[See \fBterminfo\fR(\*n) for further details.]
The \fBncurses\fR library permits manipulation of data structures,
called \fIwindows\fR, which can be thought of as two-dimensional
arrays of characters representing all or part of a CRT screen. A
default window called \fBstdscr\fR, which is the size of the terminal
screen, is supplied. Others may be created with \fBnewwin\fR.
Windows are referred to by variables declared as \fBWINDOW *\fR.
These data structures are manipulated with routines described in manual section 3
pages (whose names begin "curs_"). Among which the most basic
routines are \fBmove\fR and \fBaddch\fR. More general versions of
these routines are included with names beginning with \fBw\fR,
allowing the user to specify a window. The routines not beginning
with \fBw\fR affect \fBstdscr\fR.)
After using routines to manipulate a window, \fBrefresh\fR is called,
telling \fBncurses\fR to make the user's CRT screen look like
\fBstdscr\fR. The characters in a window are actually of type
\fBchtype\fR, (character and attribute data) so that other information
about the character may also be stored with each character.
Special windows called \fIpads\fR may also be manipulated. These are windows
which are not constrained to the size of the screen and whose contents need not
be completely displayed. See curs_pad(3) for more information.
In addition to drawing characters on the screen, video attributes and colors
may be supported, causing the characters to show up in such modes as
underlined, in reverse video, or in color on terminals that support such
display enhancements. Line drawing characters may be specified to be output.
On input, \fBncurses\fR is also able to translate arrow and function keys that
transmit escape sequences into single values. The video attributes, line
drawing characters, and input values use names, defined in \fB<ncurses.h>\fR,
such as \fBA_REVERSE\fR, \fBACS_HLINE\fR, and \fBKEY_LEFT\fR.
If the environment variables \fBLINES\fR and \fBCOLUMNS\fR are set, or if the
program is executing in a window environment, line and column information in
the environment will override information read by \fIterminfo\fR. This would
effect a program running in an AT&T 630 layer, for example, where the size of a
screen is changeable.
If the environment variable \fBTERMINFO\fR is defined, any program using
\fBncurses\fR checks for a local terminal definition before checking in the
standard place. For example, if \fBTERM\fR is set to \fBatt4424\fR, then the
compiled terminal definition is found in
\fB\*d/a/att4424\fR.
(The \fBa\fR is copied from the first letter of \fBatt4424\fR to avoid
creation of huge directories.) However, if \fBTERMINFO\fR is set to
\fB$HOME/myterms\fR, \fBncurses\fR first checks
\fB$HOME/myterms/a/att4424\fR,
and if that fails, it then checks
\fB\*d/a/att4424\fR.
This is useful for developing experimental definitions or when write
permission in \fB\*d\fR is not available.
The integer variables \fBLINES\fR and \fBCOLS\fR are defined in
\fB<ncurses.h>\fR and will be filled in by \fBinitscr\fR with the size of the
screen. The constants \fBTRUE\fR and \fBFALSE\fR have the values \fB1\fR and
\fB0\fR, respectively.
The \fBncurses\fR routines also define the \fBWINDOW *\fR variable \fBcurscr\fR
which is used for certain low-level operations like clearing and redrawing a
screen containing garbage. The \fBcurscr\fR can be used in only a few
routines.
.SS Routine and Argument Names
Many \fBncurses\fR routines have two or more versions. The routines prefixed
with \fBw\fR require a window argument. The routines prefixed with \fBp\fR
require a pad argument. Those without a prefix generally use \fBstdscr\fR.
The routines prefixed with \fBmv\fR require a \fIy\fR and \fIx\fR
coordinate to move to before performing the appropriate action. The
\fBmv\fR routines imply a call to \fBmove\fR before the call to the
other routine. The coordinate \fIy\fR always refers to the row (of
the window), and \fIx\fR always refers to the column. The upper
left-hand corner is always (0,0), not (1,1).
The routines prefixed with \fBmvw\fR take both a window argument and
\fIx\fR and \fIy\fR coordinates. The window argument is always
specified before the coordinates.
In each case, \fIwin\fR is the window affected, and \fIpad\fR is the
pad affected; \fIwin\fR and \fIpad\fR are always pointers to type
\fBWINDOW\fR.
Option setting routines require a Boolean flag \fIbf\fR with the value
\fBTRUE\fR or \fBFALSE\fR; \fIbf\fR is always of type \fBbool\fR. The
variables \fIch\fR and \fIattrs\fR below are always of type
\fBchtype\fR. The types \fBWINDOW\fR, \fBSCREEN\fR, \fBbool\fR, and
\fBchtype\fR are defined in \fB<ncurses.h>\fR. The type \fBTERMINAL\fR
is defined in \fB<term.h>\fR. All other arguments are integers.
.SS Routine Name Index
The following table lists each \fBncurses\fR routine and the name of
the manual page on which it is described.
.nf
\fBncurses\fR Routine Name Manual Page Name
___________________________________________
addch curs_addch(3)
addchnstr curs_addchstr(3)
addchstr curs_addchstr(3)
addnstr curs_addstr(3)
addstr curs_addstr(3)
attroff curs_attr(3)
attron curs_attr(3)
attrset curs_attr(3)
baudrate curs_termattrs(3)
beep curs_beep(3)
bkgd curs_bkgd(3)
bkgdset curs_bkgd(3)
border curs_border(3)
box curs_border(3)
can_change_color curs_color(3)
cbreak curs_inopts(3)
clear curs_clear(3)
clearok curs_outopts(3)
clrtobot curs_clear(3)
clrtoeol curs_clear(3)
color_content curs_color(3)
copywin curs_overlay(3)
curs_set curs_kernel(3)
def_prog_mode curs_kernel(3)
def_shell_mode curs_kernel(3)
del_curterm curs_terminfo(\*n)
delay_output curs_util(3)
delch curs_delch(3)
deleteln curs_deleteln(3)
delscreen curs_initscr(3)
delwin curs_window(3)
derwin curs_window(3)
doupdate curs_refresh(3)
dupwin curs_window(3)
echo curs_inopts(3)
echochar curs_addch(3)
endwin curs_initscr(3)
erase curs_clear(3)
erasechar curs_termattrs(3)
filter curs_util(3)
flash curs_beep(3)
flushinp curs_util(3)
getbegyx curs_getyx(3)
getch curs_getch(3)
getmaxyx curs_getyx(3)
getparyx curs_getyx(3)
getstr curs_getstr(3)
getsyx curs_kernel(3)
getwin curs_util(3)
getyx curs_getyx(3)
halfdelay curs_inopts(3)
has_colors curs_color(3)
has_ic curs_termattrs(3)
has_il curs_termattrs(3)
hline curs_border(3)
idcok curs_outopts(3)
idlok curs_outopts(3)
immedok curs_outopts(3)
inch curs_inch(3)
inchnstr curs_inchstr(3)
inchstr curs_inchstr(3)
init_color curs_color(3)
init_pair curs_color(3)
initscr curs_initscr(3)
innstr curs_instr(3)
insch curs_insch(3)
insdelln curs_deleteln(3)
insertln curs_deleteln(3)
insnstr curs_insstr(3)
insstr curs_insstr(3)
instr curs_instr(3)
intrflush curs_inopts(3)
is_linetouched curs_touch(3)
is_wintouched curs_touch(3)
isendwin curs_initscr(3)
keyname curs_util(3)
keypad curs_inopts(3)
killchar curs_termattrs(3)
leaveok curs_outopts(3)
longname curs_termattrs(3)
meta curs_inopts(3)
move curs_move(3)
mvaddch curs_addch(3)
mvaddchnstr curs_addchstr(3)
mvaddchstr curs_addchstr(3)
mvaddnstr curs_addstr(3)
mvaddstr curs_addstr(3)
mvcur curs_terminfo(\*n)
mvdelch curs_delch(3)
mvderwin curs_window(3)
mvgetch curs_getch(3)
mvgetstr curs_getstr(3)
mvinch curs_inch(3)
mvinchnstr curs_inchstr(3)
mvinchstr curs_inchstr(3)
mvinnstr curs_instr(3)
mvinsch curs_insch(3)
mvinsnstr curs_insstr(3)
mvinsstr curs_insstr(3)
mvinstr curs_instr(3)
mvprintw curs_printw(3)
mvscanw curs_scanw(3)
mvwaddch curs_addch(3)
mvwaddchnstr curs_addchstr(3)
mvwaddchstr curs_addchstr(3)
mvwaddnstr curs_addstr(3)
mvwaddstr curs_addstr(3)
mvwdelch curs_delch(3)
mvwgetch curs_getch(3)
mvwgetstr curs_getstr(3)
mvwin curs_window(3)
mvwinch curs_inch(3)
mvwinchnstr curs_inchstr(3)
mvwinchstr curs_inchstr(3)
mvwinnstr curs_instr(3)
mvwinsch curs_insch(3)
mvwinsnstr curs_insstr(3)
mvwinsstr curs_insstr(3)
mvwinstr curs_instr(3)
mvwprintw curs_printw(3)
mvwscanw curs_scanw(3)
napms curs_kernel(3)
newpad curs_pad(3)
newterm curs_initscr(3)
newwin curs_window(3)
nl curs_outopts(3)
nocbreak curs_inopts(3)
nodelay curs_inopts(3)
noecho curs_inopts(3)
nonl curs_outopts(3)
noqiflush curs_inopts(3)
noraw curs_inopts(3)
notimeout curs_inopts(3)
overlay curs_overlay(3)
overwrite curs_overlay(3)
pair_content curs_color(3)
pechochar curs_pad(3)
pnoutrefresh curs_pad(3)
prefresh curs_pad(3)
printw curs_printw(3)
putp curs_terminfo(\*n)
putwin curs_util(3)
qiflush curs_inopts(3)
raw curs_inopts(3)
redrawwin curs_refresh(3)
refresh curs_refresh(3)
reset_prog_mode curs_kernel(3)
reset_shell_mode curs_kernel(3)
resetty curs_kernel(3)
restartterm curs_terminfo(\*n)
ripoffline curs_kernel(3)
savetty curs_kernel(3)
scanw curs_scanw(3)
scr_dump curs_scr_dmp(3)
scr_init curs_scr_dmp(3)
scr_restore curs_scr_dmp(3)
scr_set curs_scr_dmp(3)
scrl curs_scroll(3)
scroll curs_scroll(3)
scrollok curs_outopts(3)
set_curterm curs_terminfo(\*n)
set_term curs_initscr(3)
setscrreg curs_outopts(3)
setsyx curs_kernel(3)
setterm curs_terminfo(\*n)
setupterm curs_terminfo(\*n)
slk_attroff curs_slk(3)
slk_attron curs_slk(3)
slk_attrset curs_slk(3)
slk_clear curs_slk(3)
slk_init curs_slk(3)
slk_label curs_slk(3)
slk_noutrefresh curs_slk(3)
slk_refresh curs_slk(3)
slk_restore curs_slk(3)
slk_set curs_slk(3)
slk_touch curs_slk(3)
standend curs_attr(3)
standout curs_attr(3)
start_color curs_color(3)
subpad curs_pad(3)
subwin curs_window(3)
syncok curs_window(3)
termattrs curs_termattrs(3)
termname curs_termattrs(3)
tigetflag curs_terminfo(\*n)
tigetnum curs_terminfo(\*n)
tigetstr curs_terminfo(\*n)
timeout curs_inopts(3)
touchline curs_touch(3)
touchwin curs_touch(3)
tparm curs_terminfo(\*n)
tputs curs_terminfo(\*n)
typeahead curs_inopts(3)
unctrl curs_util(3)
ungetch curs_getch(3)
untouchwin curs_touch(3)
use_env curs_util(3)
vidattr curs_terminfo(\*n)
vidputs curs_terminfo(\*n)
vline curs_border(3)
vwprintw curs_printw(3)
vwscanw curs_scanw(3)
waddch curs_addch(3)
waddchnstr curs_addchstr(3)
waddchstr curs_addchstr(3)
waddnstr curs_addstr(3)
waddstr curs_addstr(3)
wattroff curs_attr(3)
wattron curs_attr(3)
wattrset curs_attr(3)
wbkgd curs_bkgd(3)
wbkgdset curs_bkgd(3)
wborder curs_border(3)
wclear curs_clear(3)
wclrtobot curs_clear(3)
wclrtoeol curs_clear(3)
wcursyncup curs_window(3)
wdelch curs_delch(3)
wdeleteln curs_deleteln(3)
wechochar curs_addch(3)
werase curs_clear(3)
wgetch curs_getch(3)
wgetnstr curs_getstr(3)
wgetstr curs_getstr(3)
whline curs_border(3)
winch curs_inch(3)
winchnstr curs_inchstr(3)
winchstr curs_inchstr(3)
winnstr curs_instr(3)
winsch curs_insch(3)
winsdelln curs_deleteln(3)
winsertln curs_deleteln(3)
winsnstr curs_insstr(3)
winsstr curs_insstr(3)
winstr curs_instr(3)
wmove curs_move(3)
wnoutrefresh curs_refresh(3)
wprintw curs_printw(3)
wredrawln curs_refresh(3)
wrefresh curs_refresh(3)
wscanw curs_scanw(3)
wscrl curs_scroll(3)
wsetscrreg curs_outopts(3)
wstandend curs_attr(3)
wstandout curs_attr(3)
wsyncdown curs_window(3)
wsyncup curs_window(3)
wtimeout curs_inopts(3)
wtouchln curs_touch(3)
wvline curs_border(3)
.fi
.SH RETURN VALUE
Routines that return an integer return \fBERR\fR upon failure and an
integer value other than \fBERR\fR upon successful completion, unless
otherwise noted in the routine descriptions.
All macros return the value of the \fBw\fR version, except \fBsetscrreg\fR,
\fBwsetscrreg\fR, \fBgetyx\fR, \fBgetbegyx\fR, \fBgetmaxyx\fR. The return
values of \fBsetscrreg\fR, \fBwsetscrreg\fR, \fBgetyx\fR, \fBgetbegyx\fR, and
\fBgetmaxyx\fR are undefined (\fIi\fR.\fIe\fR., these should not be used as the
right-hand side of assignment statements).
Routines that return pointers return \fBNULL\fR on error.
.SH SEE ALSO
\fBterminfo\fR(5) and section 3 pages whose names begin "curs_" for detailed routine
descriptions.
.SH NOTES
The header file \fB<ncurses.h>\fR automatically includes the header files
\fB<stdio.h>\fR and \fB<unctrl.h>\fR.
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