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The Termcap Library

The Termcap Library

Introduction		What is termcap? Why this manual?
1. The Termcap Library		The termcap library functions.
2. The Format of the Data Base		What terminal descriptions in `/etc/termcap' look like.
3. Definitions of the Terminal Capabilities		Definitions of the individual terminal capabilities: how to write them in descriptions, and how to use their values to do display updating.
4. Summary of Capability Names		Brief table of capability names and their meanings.
Variable and Function Index		Index of C functions and variables.
Capability Index		Index of termcap capabilities.
Concept Index		Concept index.

 -- The Detailed Node Listing ---

The Termcap Library

1.1 Preparing to Use the Termcap Library		Preparing to use the termcap library.
1.2 Finding a Terminal Description: tgetent		Finding the description of the terminal being used.
1.3 Interrogating the Terminal Description		Interrogating the description for particular capabilities.
1.4 Initialization for Use of Termcap		Initialization for output using termcap.
1.5 Padding		Outputting padding.
1.6 Filling In Parameters		Encoding parameters such as cursor positions.

Padding

1.5.1 Why Pad, and How		Explanation of padding.
1.5.2 When There Is Not Enough Padding		When there is not enough padding.
1.5.3 Specifying Padding in a Terminal Description		The data base says how much padding a terminal needs.
1.5.4 Performing Padding with tputs		Using tputs to output the needed padding.

Filling In Parameters

1.6.1 Describing the Encoding		The language for encoding parameters.
1.6.2 Sending Display Commands with Parameters		Outputting a string command with parameters.

Sending Display Commands with Parameters

1.6.2.1 tparam		The general case, for GNU termcap only.
1.6.2.2 tgoto		The special case of cursor motion.

The Format of the Data Base

2.1 Terminal Description Format		Overall format of a terminal description.
2.2 Writing the Capabilities		Format of capabilities within a description.
2.3 Terminal Type Name Conventions		Naming conventions for terminal types.
2.4 Inheriting from Related Descriptions		Inheriting part of a description from

a related terminal type.

2.5 When Changes in the Data Base Take Effect

When changes in the data base take effect.

Definitions of the Terminal Capabilities

3.1 Basic Characteristics		Basic characteristics.
3.2 Screen Size		Screen size, and what happens when it changes.
3.3 Cursor Motion		Various ways to move the cursor.
3.4 Wrapping		What happens if you write a character in the last column.
3.5 Scrolling		Pushing text up and down on the screen.
3.6 Windows		Limiting the part of the window that output affects.
3.7 Clearing Parts of the Screen		Erasing one or many lines.
3.8 Insert/Delete Line		Making new blank lines in mid-screen; deleting lines.
3.9 Insert/Delete Character		Inserting and deleting characters within a line.
3.10 Standout and Appearance Modes		Highlighting some of the text.
3.11 Underlining		Underlining some of the text.
3.12 Cursor Visibility		Making the cursor more or less easy to spot.
3.13 Bell		Attracts user's attention; not localized on the screen.
3.14 Keypad and Function Keys		Recognizing when function keys or arrows are typed.
3.15 Meta Key		META acts like an extra shift key.
3.16 Initialization		Commands used to initialize or reset the terminal.
3.17 Padding Capabilities		Info for the kernel on how much padding is needed.
3.18 Status Line		A status line displays "background" information.
3.19 Half-Line Motion		Moving by half-lines, for superscripts and subscripts.
3.20 Controlling Printers Attached to Terminals		Controlling auxiliary printers of display terminals.