xrdb(1X)xrdb(1X)NAMExrdb - X server resource database utility
SYNOPSISxrdb [-option...] [filename]
OPTIONSxrdb program accepts the following options: This option (or any unsup‐
ported option) will cause a brief description of the allowable options
and parameters to be printed. This option specifies the X server to be
used; see X(1X). It also specifies the screen to use for the -screen
option, and it specifies the screen from which preprocessor symbols are
derived for the -global option. This option indicates that operation
should be performed on the screen-independent resource property
(RESOURCE_MANAGER), as well as the screen-specific property
(SCREEN_RESOURCES) on every screen of the display. For example, when
used in conjunction with -query, the contents of all properties are
output. For -load, -override and -merge, the input file is processed
once for each screen. The resources which occur in common in the out‐
put for every screen are collected, and these are applied as the
screen-independent resources. The remaining resources are applied for
each individual per-screen property. This the default mode of opera‐
tion. This option indicates that the operation should only be per‐
formed on the screen-independent RESOURCE_MANAGER property. This
option indicates that the operation should only be performed on the
SCREEN_RESOURCES property of the default screen of the display. This
option indicates that the operation should be performed on the
SCREEN_RESOURCES property of each screen of the display. For -load,
-override and -merge, the input file is processed for each screen.
This option indicates that changes to the specified properties (when
used with -load, -override or -merge) or to the resource file (when
used with -edit) should be shown on the standard output, but should not
be performed. This option indicates that warning about duplicate
entries should not be displayed. This option specifies the pathname of
the C preprocessor program to be used. Although xrdb was designed to
use CPP, any program that acts as a filter and accepts the -D, -I, and
-U options may be used. This option indicates that xrdb should not run
the input file through a preprocessor before loading it into proper‐
ties. This option indicates that the symbols that are defined for the
preprocessor should be printed onto the standard output. This option
indicates that the current contents of the specified properties should
be printed onto the standard output. Note that since preprocessor com‐
mands in the input resource file are part of the input file, not part
of the property, they will not appear in the output from this option.
The -edit option can be used to merge the contents of properties back
into the input resource file without damaging preprocessor commands.
This option indicates that the input should be loaded as the new value
of the specified properties, replacing whatever was there (that is, the
old contents are removed). This is the default action. This option
indicates that the input should be added to, instead of replacing, the
current contents of the specified properties. New entries override pre‐
vious entries. This option indicates that the input should be merged
and lexicographically sorted with, instead of replacing, the current
contents of the specified properties. This option indicates that the
specified properties should be removed from the server. This option
indicates that the server should be instructed not to reset if xrdb is
the first client. This never be necessary under normal conditions,
since xdm and xinit always act as the first client. This option indi‐
cates that the contents of the specified properties should be edited
into the given file, replacing any values already listed there. This
allows you to put changes that you have made to your defaults back into
your resource file, preserving any comments or preprocessor lines.
This option specifies a suffix to be appended to the filename used with
-edit to generate a backup file. This option is passed through to the
preprocessor and is used to define symbols for use with conditionals
such as #ifdef. This option is passed through to the preprocessor and
is used to remove any definitions of this symbol. This option is
passed through to the preprocessor and is used to specify a directory
to search for files that are referenced with #include.
DESCRIPTION
The xrdb command is used to get or set the contents of the
RESOURCE_MANAGER property on the root window of screen 0, or the
SCREEN_RESOURCES property on the root window of any or all screens, or
everything combined. You would normally run this program from your X
startup file.
Most X clients use the RESOURCE_MANAGER and SCREEN_RESOURCES properties
to get user preferences about color, fonts, and so on for applications.
Having this information in the server (where it is available to all
clients) instead of on disk, solves the problem in previous versions of
X that required you to maintain defaults files on every machine that
you might use. It also allows for dynamic changing of defaults without
editing files.
The RESOURCE_MANAGER property is used for resources that apply to all
screens of the display. The SCREEN_RESOURCES property on each screen
specifies additional (or overriding) resources to be used for that
screen. (When there is only one screen, SCREEN_RESOURCES is normally
not used, all resources are just placed in the RESOURCE_MANAGER prop‐
erty.)
The file specified by filename (or the contents from standard input if
- or no filename is given) is optionally passed through the C pre‐
processor with the following symbols defined, based on the capabilities
of the server being used: the hostname portion of the display to which
you are connected. the SERVERHOST hostname string turned into a legal
identifier. For example, "my-dpy.lcs.mit.edu" becomes
SRVR_my_dpy_lcs_mit_edu. the same as SERVERHOST . The symbol to use
with a Personal Computer style keyboard from any vendor. Use DECKEY‐
BOARD_PCSTYLE if you are using a PC-style keyboard such as the LK443 or
LK444. the number of the display on the server host. the name of the
host on which xrdb is running. the CLIENTHOST hostname string turned
into a legal identifier. For example, "expo.lcs.mit.edu" becomes
CLNT_expo_lcs_mit_edu. the vendor release number for the server. The
interpretation of this number will vary depending on VENDOR. the X
protocol minor version supported by this server (currently 0). the X
protocol major version supported by this server (should always be 11).
a string literal specifying the vendor of the server. the VENDOR name
string turned into a legal identifier. For example, "MIT X Consortium"
becomes VNDR_MIT_X_Consortium. A symbol is defined for each protocol
extension supported by the server. Each extension string name is turned
into a legal identifier. For example, "X3D-PEX" becomes EXT_X3D_PEX.
the total number of screens. the number of the current screen (from
zero). the number of significant bits in an RGB color specification.
This is the log base 2 of the number of distinct shades of each primary
that the hardware can generate. Note that it usually is not related to
PLANES. one of StaticGray, GrayScale, StaticColor, PseudoColor, True‐
Color, DirectColor. This is the visual class of the root window. the
visual class of the root window in a form you can #ifdef on. The value
is the numeric id of the visual. defined only if CLASS is one of Stat‐
icColor, PseudoColor, TrueColor, or DirectColor. A symbol is defined
for each visual supported for the screen. The symbol includes the
class of the visual and its depth; the value is the numeric id of the
visual. (If more than one visual has the same class and depth, the
numeric id of the first one reported by the server is used.) The sym‐
bol to use with a keyboard such as the LK401 or LK201 on the Tru64 UNIX
operating system. The symbol to use with a keyboard such as the LK401
or LK201 on the OpenVMS operating system or with VXT. The symbol to
use with a Personal Computer style keyboard such as the LK443 or LK444.
the height of the root window in pixels. the width of the root window
in pixels. the number of bit planes (the depth) of the root window.
the x resolution of the screen in pixels per meter. the y resolution
of the screen in pixels per meter.
SRVR_name, CLNT_name, VNDR_name, and EXT_name identifiers are formed by
changing all characters other than letters and digits into underscores
(_).
Lines that begin with an exclamation mark (!) are ignored and may be
used as comments.
Note that since xrdb can read from standard input, it can be used to
the change the contents of properties directly from a terminal or from
a shell script.
FILES
Generalizes ~/.Xdefaults files.
ENVIRONMENT
to figure out which display to use.
BUGS
The default for no arguments should be to query, not to overwrite, so
that it is consistent with other programs.
SEE ALSOX(1X), Xlib Resource Manager Documentation, Xt Resource Documentation
AUTHORS
Bob Scheifler, Phil Karlton, rewritten from the original by Jim Gettys
xrdb(1X)
