01cf73a5d3
While I didn't plan another upgrade, This version incorporate fixes from kevans@ so let's upgrade to it
642 lines
23 KiB
Plaintext
642 lines
23 KiB
Plaintext
.\"***************************************************************************
|
|
.\" Copyright 2018,2020 Thomas E. Dickey *
|
|
.\" Copyright 1998-2016,2017 Free Software Foundation, Inc. *
|
|
.\" *
|
|
.\" Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a *
|
|
.\" copy of this software and associated documentation files (the *
|
|
.\" "Software"), to deal in the Software without restriction, including *
|
|
.\" without limitation the rights to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, *
|
|
.\" distribute, distribute with modifications, sublicense, and/or sell *
|
|
.\" copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is *
|
|
.\" furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions: *
|
|
.\" *
|
|
.\" The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included *
|
|
.\" in all copies or substantial portions of the Software. *
|
|
.\" *
|
|
.\" THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS *
|
|
.\" OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF *
|
|
.\" MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. *
|
|
.\" IN NO EVENT SHALL THE ABOVE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, *
|
|
.\" DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR *
|
|
.\" OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR *
|
|
.\" THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE. *
|
|
.\" *
|
|
.\" Except as contained in this notice, the name(s) of the above copyright *
|
|
.\" holders shall not be used in advertising or otherwise to promote the *
|
|
.\" sale, use or other dealings in this Software without prior written *
|
|
.\" authorization. *
|
|
.\"***************************************************************************
|
|
.\"
|
|
.\" $Id: curs_terminfo.3x,v 1.64 2020/02/02 23:34:34 tom Exp $
|
|
.TH curs_terminfo 3X ""
|
|
.ie \n(.g .ds `` \(lq
|
|
.el .ds `` ``
|
|
.ie \n(.g .ds '' \(rq
|
|
.el .ds '' ''
|
|
.de bP
|
|
.ie n .IP \(bu 4
|
|
.el .IP \(bu 2
|
|
..
|
|
.ds n 5
|
|
.na
|
|
.hy 0
|
|
.SH NAME
|
|
\fBdel_curterm\fR,
|
|
\fBmvcur\fR,
|
|
\fBputp\fR,
|
|
\fBrestartterm\fR,
|
|
\fBset_curterm\fR,
|
|
\fBsetterm\fR,
|
|
\fBsetupterm\fR,
|
|
\fBtigetflag\fR,
|
|
\fBtigetnum\fR,
|
|
\fBtigetstr\fR,
|
|
\fBtiparm\fR,
|
|
\fBtparm\fR,
|
|
\fBtputs\fR,
|
|
\fBvid_attr\fR,
|
|
\fBvid_puts\fR,
|
|
\fBvidattr\fR,
|
|
\fBvidputs\fR \- \fBcurses\fR interfaces to terminfo database
|
|
.ad
|
|
.hy
|
|
.SH SYNOPSIS
|
|
.nf
|
|
\fB#include <curses.h>\fR
|
|
.br
|
|
\fB#include <term.h>\fR
|
|
.sp
|
|
\fBTERMINAL *cur_term;\fR
|
|
.sp
|
|
\fBconst char * const boolnames[];\fP
|
|
\fBconst char * const boolcodes[];\fP
|
|
\fBconst char * const boolfnames[];\fP
|
|
\fBconst char * const numnames[];\fP
|
|
\fBconst char * const numcodes[];\fP
|
|
\fBconst char * const numfnames[];\fP
|
|
\fBconst char * const strnames[];\fP
|
|
\fBconst char * const strcodes[];\fP
|
|
\fBconst char * const strfnames[];\fP
|
|
.sp
|
|
\fBint setupterm(const char *\fR\fIterm\fR\fB, int \fR\fIfiledes\fR\fB, int *\fR\fIerrret\fR\fB);\fR
|
|
.br
|
|
\fBint setterm(const char *\fR\fIterm\fR\fB);\fR
|
|
.br
|
|
\fBTERMINAL *set_curterm(TERMINAL *\fR\fInterm\fR\fB);\fR
|
|
.br
|
|
\fBint del_curterm(TERMINAL *\fR\fIoterm\fR\fB);\fR
|
|
.br
|
|
\fBint restartterm(const char *\fR\fIterm\fR\fB, int \fR\fIfiledes\fR\fB, int *\fR\fIerrret\fR\fB);\fR
|
|
.sp
|
|
\fBchar *tparm(const char *\fR\fIstr\fR\fB, ...);\fR
|
|
.br
|
|
\fBint tputs(const char *\fR\fIstr\fR\fB, int \fR\fIaffcnt\fR\fB, int (*\fR\fIputc\fR\fB)(int));\fR
|
|
.br
|
|
\fBint putp(const char *\fR\fIstr\fR\fB);\fR
|
|
.sp
|
|
\fBint vidputs(chtype \fR\fIattrs\fR\fB, int (*\fR\fIputc\fR\fB)(int));\fR
|
|
.br
|
|
\fBint vidattr(chtype \fR\fIattrs\fR\fB);\fR
|
|
.br
|
|
\fBint vid_puts(attr_t \fR\fIattrs\fR\fB, short \fR\fIpair\fR\fB, void *\fR\fIopts\fR\fB, int (*\fR\fIputc\fR\fB)(int));\fR
|
|
.br
|
|
\fBint vid_attr(attr_t \fR\fIattrs\fR\fB, short \fR\fIpair\fR\fB, void *\fR\fIopts\fR\fB);\fR
|
|
.sp
|
|
\fBint mvcur(int \fR\fIoldrow\fR\fB, int \fR\fIoldcol\fR\fB, int \fR\fInewrow\fR, int \fR\fInewcol\fR\fB);\fR
|
|
.sp
|
|
\fBint tigetflag(const char *\fR\fIcapname\fR\fB);\fR
|
|
.br
|
|
\fBint tigetnum(const char *\fR\fIcapname\fR\fB);\fR
|
|
.br
|
|
\fBchar *tigetstr(const char *\fR\fIcapname\fR\fB);\fR
|
|
.sp
|
|
\fBchar *tiparm(const char *\fR\fIstr\fR\fB, ...);\fR
|
|
.br
|
|
.fi
|
|
.SH DESCRIPTION
|
|
These low-level routines must be called by programs that have to deal
|
|
directly with the \fBterminfo\fR database to handle certain terminal
|
|
capabilities, such as programming function keys.
|
|
For all other
|
|
functionality, \fBcurses\fR routines are more suitable and their use is
|
|
recommended.
|
|
.SS Initialization
|
|
.PP
|
|
Initially, \fBsetupterm\fR should be called.
|
|
The high-level curses functions \fBinitscr\fR and
|
|
\fBnewterm\fR call \fBsetupterm\fP to initialize the
|
|
low-level set of terminal-dependent variables
|
|
[listed in \fBterminfo\fR(\*n)].
|
|
.PP
|
|
Applications can use the
|
|
terminal capabilities either directly (via header definitions),
|
|
or by special functions.
|
|
The header files \fBcurses.h\fR and \fBterm.h\fR should be included (in this
|
|
order) to get the definitions for these strings, numbers, and flags.
|
|
.PP
|
|
The \fBterminfo\fR variables
|
|
\fBlines\fR and \fBcolumns\fR are initialized by \fBsetupterm\fR as
|
|
follows:
|
|
.bP
|
|
If \fBuse_env(FALSE)\fR has been called, values for
|
|
\fBlines\fR and \fBcolumns\fR specified in \fBterminfo\fR are used.
|
|
.bP
|
|
Otherwise, if the environment variables \fBLINES\fR and \fBCOLUMNS\fR
|
|
exist, their values are used.
|
|
If these environment variables do not
|
|
exist and the program is running in a window, the current window size
|
|
is used.
|
|
Otherwise, if the environment variables do not exist, the
|
|
values for \fBlines\fR and \fBcolumns\fR specified in the
|
|
\fBterminfo\fR database are used.
|
|
.PP
|
|
Parameterized strings should be passed through \fBtparm\fR to instantiate them.
|
|
All \fBterminfo\fR strings
|
|
(including the output of \fBtparm\fR)
|
|
should be printed
|
|
with \fBtputs\fR or \fBputp\fR.
|
|
Call \fBreset_shell_mode\fR to restore the
|
|
tty modes before exiting [see \fBcurs_kernel\fR(3X)].
|
|
.PP
|
|
Programs which use
|
|
cursor addressing should
|
|
.bP
|
|
output \fBenter_ca_mode\fR upon startup and
|
|
.bP
|
|
output \fBexit_ca_mode\fR before exiting.
|
|
.PP
|
|
Programs which execute shell subprocesses should
|
|
.bP
|
|
call \fBreset_shell_mode\fR and
|
|
output \fBexit_ca_mode\fR before the shell
|
|
is called and
|
|
.bP
|
|
output \fBenter_ca_mode\fR and
|
|
call \fBreset_prog_mode\fR after returning from the shell.
|
|
.PP
|
|
The \fBsetupterm\fR routine reads in the \fBterminfo\fR database,
|
|
initializing the \fBterminfo\fR structures, but does not set up the
|
|
output virtualization structures used by \fBcurses\fR.
|
|
These are its parameters:
|
|
.RS 3
|
|
.TP 5
|
|
\fIterm\fP
|
|
is the terminal type, a character string.
|
|
If \fIterm\fR is null, the environment variable \fBTERM\fR is used.
|
|
.TP 5
|
|
\fIfiledes\fP
|
|
is the file descriptor used for all output.
|
|
.TP 5
|
|
\fIerrret\fP
|
|
points to an optional location where an error status can be returned to
|
|
the caller.
|
|
If \fIerrret\fR is not null,
|
|
then \fBsetupterm\fR returns \fBOK\fR or
|
|
\fBERR\fR and stores a status value in the integer pointed to by
|
|
\fIerrret\fR.
|
|
A return value of \fBOK\fR combined with status of \fB1\fR in \fIerrret\fR
|
|
is normal.
|
|
.IP
|
|
If \fBERR\fR is returned, examine \fIerrret\fR:
|
|
.RS
|
|
.TP 5
|
|
.B 1
|
|
means that the terminal is hardcopy, cannot be used for curses applications.
|
|
.IP
|
|
\fBsetupterm\fP determines if the entry is a hardcopy type by
|
|
checking the \fBhc\fP (\fBhardcopy\fP) capability.
|
|
.TP 5
|
|
.B 0
|
|
means that the terminal could not be found,
|
|
or that it is a generic type,
|
|
having too little information for curses applications to run.
|
|
.IP
|
|
\fBsetupterm\fP determines if the entry is a generic type by
|
|
checking the \fBgn\fP (\fBgeneric\fP) capability.
|
|
.TP 5
|
|
.B \-1
|
|
means that the \fBterminfo\fR database could not be found.
|
|
.RE
|
|
.IP
|
|
If \fIerrret\fR is
|
|
null, \fBsetupterm\fR prints an error message upon finding an error
|
|
and exits.
|
|
Thus, the simplest call is:
|
|
.sp
|
|
\fBsetupterm((char *)0, 1, (int *)0);\fR,
|
|
.sp
|
|
which uses all the defaults and sends the output to \fBstdout\fR.
|
|
.RE
|
|
.PP
|
|
The \fBsetterm\fR routine was replaced by \fBsetupterm\fR. The call:
|
|
.sp
|
|
\fBsetupterm(\fR\fIterm\fR\fB, 1, (int *)0)\fR
|
|
.sp
|
|
provides the same functionality as \fBsetterm(\fR\fIterm\fR\fB)\fR.
|
|
The \fBsetterm\fR routine is provided for BSD compatibility, and
|
|
is not recommended for new programs.
|
|
.\" ***************************************************************************
|
|
.SS The Terminal State
|
|
.PP
|
|
The \fBsetupterm\fR routine stores its information about the terminal
|
|
in a \fBTERMINAL\fP structure pointed to by the global variable \fBcur_term\fP.
|
|
If it detects an error,
|
|
or decides that the terminal is unsuitable (hardcopy or generic),
|
|
it discards this information,
|
|
making it not available to applications.
|
|
.PP
|
|
If \fBsetupterm\fP is called repeatedly for the same terminal type,
|
|
it will reuse the information.
|
|
It maintains only one copy of a given terminal's capabilities in memory.
|
|
If it is called for different terminal types,
|
|
\fBsetupterm\fP allocates new storage for each set of terminal capabilities.
|
|
.PP
|
|
The \fBset_curterm\fR routine sets \fBcur_term\fR to
|
|
\fInterm\fR, and makes all of the \fBterminfo\fR boolean, numeric, and
|
|
string variables use the values from \fInterm\fR.
|
|
It returns the old value of \fBcur_term\fR.
|
|
.PP
|
|
The \fBdel_curterm\fR routine frees the space pointed to by
|
|
\fIoterm\fR and makes it available for further use.
|
|
If \fIoterm\fR is
|
|
the same as \fBcur_term\fR, references to any of the \fBterminfo\fR
|
|
boolean, numeric, and string variables thereafter may refer to invalid
|
|
memory locations until another \fBsetupterm\fR has been called.
|
|
.PP
|
|
The \fBrestartterm\fR routine is similar to \fBsetupterm\fR and \fBinitscr\fR,
|
|
except that it is called after restoring memory to a previous state (for
|
|
example, when reloading a game saved as a core image dump).
|
|
\fBrestartterm\fP assumes that the windows and the input and output options
|
|
are the same as when memory was saved,
|
|
but the terminal type and baud rate may be different.
|
|
Accordingly, \fBrestartterm\fP saves various tty state bits,
|
|
calls \fBsetupterm\fP, and then restores the bits.
|
|
.\" ***************************************************************************
|
|
.SS Formatting Output
|
|
.PP
|
|
The \fBtparm\fR routine instantiates the string \fIstr\fR with
|
|
parameters \fIpi\fR. A pointer is returned to the result of \fIstr\fR
|
|
with the parameters applied.
|
|
Application developers should keep in mind these quirks of the interface:
|
|
.bP
|
|
Although \fBtparm\fP's actual parameters may be integers or strings,
|
|
the prototype expects \fBlong\fP (integer) values.
|
|
.bP
|
|
Aside from the \fBset_attributes\fP (\fBsgr\fP) capability,
|
|
most terminal capabilities require no more than one or two parameters.
|
|
.PP
|
|
\fBtiparm\fP is a newer form of \fBtparm\fP which uses \fI<stdarg.h>\fP
|
|
rather than a fixed-parameter list.
|
|
Its numeric parameters are integers (int) rather than longs.
|
|
.\" ***************************************************************************
|
|
.SS Output Functions
|
|
.PP
|
|
The \fBtputs\fR routine applies padding information to the string
|
|
\fIstr\fR and outputs it:
|
|
.bP
|
|
The \fIstr\fR parameter must be a terminfo string
|
|
variable or the return value from
|
|
\fBtparm\fR, \fBtiparm\fP, \fBtgetstr\fR, or \fBtgoto\fR.
|
|
.IP
|
|
The \fBtgetstr\fP and \fBtgoto\fP functions are part of the \fItermcap\fP
|
|
interface,
|
|
which happens to share this function name with the \fIterminfo\fP interface.
|
|
.bP
|
|
\fIaffcnt\fR is the number of lines affected, or 1 if
|
|
not applicable.
|
|
.bP
|
|
\fIputc\fR is a \fBputchar\fR-like routine to which
|
|
the characters are passed, one at a time.
|
|
.PP
|
|
The \fBputp\fR routine calls \fBtputs(\fR\fIstr\fR\fB, 1, putchar)\fR.
|
|
The output of \fBputp\fR always goes to \fBstdout\fR, rather than
|
|
the \fIfiledes\fR specified in \fBsetupterm\fR.
|
|
.PP
|
|
The \fBvidputs\fR routine displays the string on the terminal in the
|
|
video attribute mode \fIattrs\fR, which is any combination of the
|
|
attributes listed in \fBcurses\fR(3X).
|
|
The characters are passed to
|
|
the \fBputchar\fR-like routine \fIputc\fR.
|
|
.PP
|
|
The \fBvidattr\fR routine is like the \fBvidputs\fR routine, except
|
|
that it outputs through \fBputchar\fR.
|
|
.PP
|
|
The \fBvid_attr\fR and \fBvid_puts\fR routines correspond
|
|
to vidattr and vidputs, respectively.
|
|
They use a set of arguments for representing the video attributes plus color,
|
|
i.e.,
|
|
.bP
|
|
\fIattrs\fP of type \fBattr_t\fP for the attributes and
|
|
.bP
|
|
\fIpair\fP of type \fBshort\fP for the color-pair number.
|
|
.PP
|
|
The \fBvid_attr\fR and \fBvid_puts\fR routines
|
|
are designed to use the attribute constants with the \fIWA_\fR prefix.
|
|
.PP
|
|
X/Open Curses reserves the \fIopts\fP argument for future use,
|
|
saying that applications must provide a null pointer for that argument.
|
|
As an extension,
|
|
this implementation allows \fIopts\fP to be used as a pointer to \fBint\fP,
|
|
which overrides the \fIpair\fP (\fBshort\fP) argument.
|
|
.PP
|
|
The \fBmvcur\fR routine provides low-level cursor motion.
|
|
It takes
|
|
effect immediately (rather than at the next refresh).
|
|
.\" ***************************************************************************
|
|
.SS Terminal Capability Functions
|
|
.PP
|
|
The \fBtigetflag\fR, \fBtigetnum\fR and \fBtigetstr\fR routines return
|
|
the value of the capability corresponding to the \fBterminfo\fR
|
|
\fIcapname\fR passed to them, such as \fBxenl\fR.
|
|
The \fIcapname\fR for each capability is given in the table column entitled
|
|
\fIcapname\fR code in the capabilities section of \fBterminfo\fR(\*n).
|
|
.PP
|
|
These routines return special values to denote errors.
|
|
.PP
|
|
The \fBtigetflag\fR routine returns
|
|
.TP
|
|
\fB\-1\fR
|
|
if \fIcapname\fR is not a boolean capability,
|
|
or
|
|
.TP
|
|
\fB0\fR
|
|
if it is canceled or absent from the terminal description.
|
|
.PP
|
|
The \fBtigetnum\fR routine returns
|
|
.TP
|
|
\fB\-2\fR
|
|
if \fIcapname\fR is not a numeric capability, or
|
|
.TP
|
|
\fB\-1\fR
|
|
if it is canceled or absent from the terminal description.
|
|
.PP
|
|
The \fBtigetstr\fR routine returns
|
|
.TP
|
|
\fB(char *)\-1\fR
|
|
if \fIcapname\fR is not a string capability,
|
|
or
|
|
.TP
|
|
\fB0\fR
|
|
if it is canceled or absent from the terminal description.
|
|
.\" ***************************************************************************
|
|
.SS Terminal Capability Names
|
|
.PP
|
|
These null-terminated arrays contain
|
|
.bP
|
|
the short terminfo names (\*(``codes\*(''),
|
|
.bP
|
|
the \fBtermcap\fR names (\*(``names\*('', and
|
|
.bP
|
|
the long terminfo names (\*(``fnames\*('')
|
|
.PP
|
|
for each of the predefined \fBterminfo\fR variables:
|
|
.sp
|
|
.RS
|
|
\fBconst char *boolnames[]\fR, \fB*boolcodes[]\fR, \fB*boolfnames[]\fR
|
|
.br
|
|
\fBconst char *numnames[]\fR, \fB*numcodes[]\fR, \fB*numfnames[]\fR
|
|
.br
|
|
\fBconst char *strnames[]\fR, \fB*strcodes[]\fR, \fB*strfnames[]\fR
|
|
.RE
|
|
.SH RETURN VALUE
|
|
Routines that return an integer return \fBERR\fR upon failure and \fBOK\fR
|
|
(SVr4 only specifies \*(``an integer value other than \fBERR\fR\*('')
|
|
upon successful completion,
|
|
unless otherwise noted in the preceding routine descriptions.
|
|
.PP
|
|
Routines that return pointers always return \fBNULL\fR on error.
|
|
.PP
|
|
X/Open defines no error conditions.
|
|
In this implementation
|
|
.RS 3
|
|
.TP 5
|
|
\fBdel_curterm\fP
|
|
returns an error
|
|
if its terminal parameter is null.
|
|
.TP 5
|
|
\fBputp\fP
|
|
calls \fBtputs\fP, returning the same error-codes.
|
|
.TP 5
|
|
\fBrestartterm\fP
|
|
returns an error
|
|
if the associated call to \fBsetupterm\fP returns an error.
|
|
.TP 5
|
|
\fBsetupterm\fP
|
|
returns an error
|
|
if it cannot allocate enough memory, or
|
|
create the initial windows (stdscr, curscr, newscr).
|
|
Other error conditions are documented above.
|
|
.TP 5
|
|
\fBtputs\fP
|
|
returns an error if the string parameter is null.
|
|
It does not detect I/O errors:
|
|
X/Open states that \fBtputs\fP ignores the return value
|
|
of the output function \fIputc\fP.
|
|
.RE
|
|
.SH HISTORY
|
|
.PP
|
|
SVr2 introduced the terminfo feature.
|
|
Its programming manual mentioned these low-level functions:
|
|
.TS
|
|
l l
|
|
_ _
|
|
l l.
|
|
\fBFunction\fR \fBDescription\fR
|
|
fixterm restore tty to \*(``in curses\*('' state
|
|
gettmode establish current tty modes
|
|
mvcur low level cursor motion
|
|
putp T{
|
|
utility function that uses \fBtputs\fP to send characters via \fBputchar\fP.
|
|
T}
|
|
resetterm set tty modes to \*(``out of curses\*('' state
|
|
resetty reset tty flags to stored value
|
|
saveterm save current modes as \*(``in curses\*('' state
|
|
savetty store current tty flags
|
|
setterm establish terminal with given type
|
|
setupterm establish terminal with given type
|
|
tparm instantiate a string expression with parameters
|
|
tputs apply padding information to a string
|
|
vidattr like \fBvidputs\fP, but outputs through \fBputchar\fP
|
|
vidputs T{
|
|
output a string to put terminal in a specified video attribute mode
|
|
T}
|
|
.TE
|
|
.PP
|
|
The programming manual also mentioned
|
|
functions provided for termcap compatibility
|
|
(commenting that they \*(``may go away at a later date\*(''):
|
|
.TS
|
|
l l
|
|
_ _
|
|
l l.
|
|
\fBFunction\fR \fBDescription\fR
|
|
tgetent look up termcap entry for given \fIname\fP
|
|
tgetflag get boolean entry for given \fIid\fP
|
|
tgetnum get numeric entry for given \fIid\fP
|
|
tgetstr get string entry for given \fIid\fP
|
|
tgoto apply parameters to given capability
|
|
tputs T{
|
|
apply padding to capability, calling a function to put characters
|
|
T}
|
|
.TE
|
|
.PP
|
|
Early terminfo programs obtained capability values from the
|
|
\fBTERMINAL\fP structure initialized by \fBsetupterm\fR.
|
|
.PP
|
|
SVr3 extended terminfo by adding functions to retrieve capability values
|
|
(like the termcap interface),
|
|
and reusing tgoto and tputs:
|
|
.TS
|
|
l l
|
|
_ _
|
|
l l.
|
|
\fBFunction\fR \fBDescription\fR
|
|
tigetflag get boolean entry for given \fIid\fP
|
|
tigetnum get numeric entry for given \fIid\fP
|
|
tigetstr get string entry for given \fIid\fP
|
|
.TE
|
|
.PP
|
|
SVr3 also replaced several of the SVr2 terminfo functions
|
|
which had no counterpart in the termcap interface,
|
|
documenting them as obsolete:
|
|
.TS
|
|
l l
|
|
_ _
|
|
l l.
|
|
\fBFunction\fR \fBReplaced by\fP
|
|
crmode cbreak
|
|
fixterm reset_prog_mode
|
|
gettmode N/A
|
|
nocrmode nocbreak
|
|
resetterm reset_shell_mode
|
|
saveterm def_prog_mode
|
|
setterm setupterm
|
|
.TE
|
|
.PP
|
|
SVr3 kept the \fBmvcur\fP, \fBvidattr\fP and \fBvidputs\fP functions,
|
|
along with \fBputp\fP, \fBtparm\fP and \fBtputs\fP.
|
|
The latter were needed to support padding,
|
|
and handling functions such as \fBvidattr\fP
|
|
(which used more than the two parameters supported by \fBtgoto\fP).
|
|
.PP
|
|
SVr3 introduced the functions for switching between terminal
|
|
descriptions, e.g., \fBset_curterm\fP.
|
|
The various global variables such as \fBboolnames\fP were mentioned
|
|
in the programming manual at this point.
|
|
.PP
|
|
SVr4 added the \fBvid_attr\fP and \fBvid_puts\fP functions.
|
|
.PP
|
|
There are other low-level functions declared in the curses header files
|
|
on Unix systems,
|
|
but none were documented.
|
|
The functions marked \*(``obsolete\*('' remained in use
|
|
by the Unix \fBvi\fP editor.
|
|
.SH PORTABILITY
|
|
.SS Legacy functions
|
|
.PP
|
|
X/Open notes that \fBvidattr\fR and \fBvidputs\fR may be macros.
|
|
.PP
|
|
The function \fBsetterm\fR is not described by X/Open and must
|
|
be considered non-portable.
|
|
All other functions are as described by X/Open.
|
|
.SS Legacy data
|
|
.PP
|
|
\fBsetupterm\fP copies the terminal name to the array \fBttytype\fP.
|
|
This is not part of X/Open Curses, but is assumed by some applications.
|
|
.PP
|
|
Other implementions may not declare the capability name arrays.
|
|
Some provide them without declaring them.
|
|
X/Open does not specify them.
|
|
.PP
|
|
Extended terminal capability names, e.g., as defined by \fB@TIC@\ \-x\fP,
|
|
are not stored in the arrays described here.
|
|
.SS Output buffering
|
|
.PP
|
|
Older versions of \fBncurses\fP assumed that the file descriptor passed to
|
|
\fBsetupterm\fP from \fBinitscr\fP or \fBnewterm\fP uses buffered I/O,
|
|
and would write to the corresponding stream.
|
|
In addition to the limitation that the terminal was left in block-buffered
|
|
mode on exit (like System V curses),
|
|
it was problematic because \fBncurses\fP
|
|
did not allow a reliable way to cleanup on receiving SIGTSTP.
|
|
.PP
|
|
The current version (ncurses6)
|
|
uses output buffers managed directly by \fBncurses\fP.
|
|
Some of the low-level functions described in this manual page write
|
|
to the standard output.
|
|
They are not signal-safe.
|
|
The high-level functions in \fBncurses\fP use
|
|
alternate versions of these functions
|
|
using the more reliable buffering scheme.
|
|
.SS Function prototypes
|
|
.PP
|
|
The X/Open Curses prototypes are based on the SVr4 curses header declarations,
|
|
which were defined at the same time the C language was first standardized in
|
|
the late 1980s.
|
|
.bP
|
|
X/Open Curses uses \fBconst\fP less effectively than a later design might,
|
|
in some cases applying it needlessly to values are already constant,
|
|
and in most cases overlooking parameters which normally would use \fBconst\fP.
|
|
Using constant parameters for functions which do not use \fBconst\fP
|
|
may prevent the program from compiling.
|
|
On the other hand, \fIwritable strings\fP are an obsolescent feature.
|
|
.IP
|
|
As an extension, this implementation can be configured to change the
|
|
function prototypes to use the \fBconst\fP keyword.
|
|
The ncurses ABI 6 enables this feature by default.
|
|
.bP
|
|
X/Open Curses prototypes \fBtparm\fR with a fixed number of parameters,
|
|
rather than a variable argument list.
|
|
.IP
|
|
This implementation uses a variable argument list, but can be
|
|
configured to use the fixed-parameter list.
|
|
Portable applications should provide 9 parameters after the format;
|
|
zeroes are fine for this purpose.
|
|
.IP
|
|
In response to review comments by Thomas E. Dickey,
|
|
X/Open Curses Issue 7 proposed the \fBtiparm\fP function in mid-2009.
|
|
.SS Special TERM treatment
|
|
.PP
|
|
If configured to use the terminal-driver,
|
|
e.g., for the MinGW port,
|
|
.bP
|
|
\fBsetupterm\fP interprets a missing/empty TERM variable as the
|
|
special value \*(``unknown\*(''.
|
|
.bP
|
|
\fBsetupterm\fP allows explicit use of the
|
|
the windows console driver by checking if $TERM is set to
|
|
\*(``#win32con\*('' or an abbreviation of that string.
|
|
.SS Other portability issues
|
|
.PP
|
|
In System V Release 4, \fBset_curterm\fR has an \fBint\fR return type and
|
|
returns \fBOK\fR or \fBERR\fR. We have chosen to implement the X/Open Curses
|
|
semantics.
|
|
.PP
|
|
In System V Release 4, the third argument of \fBtputs\fR has the type
|
|
\fBint (*putc)(char)\fR.
|
|
.PP
|
|
At least one implementation of X/Open Curses (Solaris) returns a value
|
|
other than \fBOK\fP/\fBERR\fP from \fBtputs\fP.
|
|
That returns the length of the string, and does no error-checking.
|
|
.PP
|
|
X/Open notes that after calling \fBmvcur\fR, the curses state may not match the
|
|
actual terminal state, and that an application should touch and refresh
|
|
the window before resuming normal curses calls.
|
|
Both \fBncurses\fP and System V Release 4 curses implement \fBmvcur\fR using
|
|
the SCREEN data allocated in either \fBinitscr\fR or \fBnewterm\fR.
|
|
So though it is documented as a terminfo function,
|
|
\fBmvcur\fR is really a curses function which is not well specified.
|
|
.PP
|
|
X/Open states that the old location must be given for \fBmvcur\fP.
|
|
This implementation allows the caller to use \-1's for the old ordinates.
|
|
In that case, the old location is unknown.
|
|
.SH SEE ALSO
|
|
\fBcurses\fR(3X),
|
|
\fBcurs_initscr\fR(3X),
|
|
\fBcurs_kernel\fR(3X),
|
|
\fBcurs_termcap\fR(3X),
|
|
\fBcurs_variables\fR(3X),
|
|
\fBterm_variables\fR(3X),
|
|
\fBputc\fR(3),
|
|
\fBterminfo\fR(\*n)
|