xrdb(1X) xrdb(1X)
NAME
xrdb - X server resource database utility
SYNOPSIS
xrdb [-option...] [filename]
OPTIONS
xrdb program accepts the following options: This option (or any unsupported 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
output 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 operation. 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 properties. 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 proper-
ties should be printed onto the standard output. Note that since preprocessor commands 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 previous 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 indicates 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 defi-
nitions 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 applica-
tions. 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 property.)
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 cur-
rent 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, Stat-
icColor, PseudoColor, TrueColor, 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 StaticColor, 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 symbol 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 under-
scores (_).
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 ALSO
X(1X), Xlib Resource Manager Documentation, Xt Resource Documentation
AUTHORS
Bob Scheifler, Phil Karlton, rewritten from the original by Jim Gettys
xrdb(1X)