Linux in a Nutshell, Fourth Edition

Name

setterm

Synopsis

                  setterm [options]

Set terminal attributes by writing to standard output a character string to invoke the specified attributes.

Options

For Boolean options, the default value is on. Where 8-color is specified, the possible colors are black, red, green, yellow, blue, magenta, cyan, and white. Where 16-color is specified, the possible colors include the 8-color colors, plus grey, bright red, bright green, bright yellow, bright blue, bright magenta, bright cyan, and bright white.

-appcursorkeys [on|off]

Set cursor key application mode on or off. Virtual consoles only. Can cause problems with vi.

-append [num]

Write a snapshot of virtual console num to the file specified with the -file option, appending the snapshot to any existing contents. With no argument, write a snapshot of the current virtual terminal.

-background 8-color|default

Set background color. Virtual consoles only.

-bfreq [freq]

Set the bell frequency in Hz (default 0).

-blank [min]

Set the delay before the screen blanks to the specified number of minutes. Virtual consoles only.

-blength [millisec]

Set the bell duration in milliseconds (default 0).

-blink [on|off]

Turn blinking mode on or off. If the terminal is not a virtual console, -blink off also turns off bold, half-bright, and reverse modes.

-bold [on|off]

Turn bold on or off. If the terminal is not a virtual console, -bold off also turns off blink, half-bright, and reverse modes.

-clear [all]

Clear the screen.

-clear rest

Clear from the current cursor ...