CURSES_ATTRIBUTES(3) | Library Functions Manual | CURSES_ATTRIBUTES(3)

# NAME

`curses_attributes`, `attron`, `attroff`, `attrset`, `color_set`, `getattrs`, `termattrs`, `wattron`, `wattroff`, `wattrset`, `wcolor_set`, `attr_on`, `attr_off`, `attr_set`, `attr_get`, `term_attrs`, `wattr_on`, `wattr_off`, `wattr_set`, `wattr_get` —
curses general attribute manipulation routines

# LIBRARY

Curses Library (libcurses, -lcurses)

# SYNOPSIS

`#include <curses.h>`

int
`attron`(int attr);

int
`attroff`(int attr);

int
`attrset`(int attr);

int
`color_set`(short pair, void *opt);

chtype
`getattrs`(WINDOW *win);

chtype
`termattrs`(void);

int
`wcolor_set`(WINDOW *win, short pair, void *opt);

int
`wattron`(WINDOW * win, int attr);

int
`wattroff`(WINDOW * win, int attr);

int
`wattrset`(WINDOW * win, int attr);

int
`attr_on`(attr_t attr, void *opt);

int
`attr_off`(attr_t attr, void *opt);

int
`attr_set`(attr_t attr, short pair, void *opt);

int
`attr_get`(attr_t *attr, short *pair, void *opt);

attr_t
`term_attrs`(void);

int
`wattr_on`(WINDOW *win, attr_t attr, void *opt);

int
`wattr_off`(WINDOW *win, attr_t attr, void *opt);

int
`wattr_set`(WINDOW *win, attr_t attr, short pair, void *opt);

int
`wattr_get`(WINDOW *win, attr_t *attr, short *pair, void *opt);

# DESCRIPTION

These functions manipulate attributes on `stdscr` or on the specified window. The attributes that can be manipulated are:

A_NORMAL
  no special attributes are applied
A_STANDOUT
  characters are displayed in standout mode
A_UNDERLINE
  characters are displayed underlined
A_REVERSE
  characters are displayed in inverse video
A_BLINK
  characters blink
A_DIM
  characters are displayed at a lower intensity
A_BOLD
  characters are displayed at a higher intensity
A_INVIS
  characters are added invisibly
A_PROTECT
  characters are protected from modification
A_ALTCHARSET
  characters are displayed using the alternate character set (ACS)
COLOR_PAIR(n)
  characters are displayed using color pair n.

The `attron`() function turns on the attributes specified in attr on `stdscr`, while the `attroff`() function turns off the attributes specified in attr on `stdscr`.

The function `attrset`() sets the attributes of `stdscr` to those specified in attr, turning off any others. To turn off all the attributes (including color and alternate character set), use `attrset`(A_NORMAL).

Multiple attributes can be manipulated by combining the attributes using a logical OR. For example, `attron`(A_REVERSE | A_BOLD) will turn on both inverse video and higher intensity.

The function `color_set`() sets the color pair attribute to the pair specified in pair.

The function `getattrs`() returns the attributes that are currently applied to window specified by win.

The function `termattrs`() returns the logical OR of attributes that can be applied to the screen.

The functions `wattron`(), `wattroff`(), `wattrset`(), and `wcolor_set`() are equivalent to `attron`(), `attroff`() `attrset`(), and `color_set`() respectively, excepting that the attributes are applied to the window specified by win.

The following functions additionally manipulate wide attributes on `stdscr` or on the specified window. The additional wide attributes that can be manipulated are:

WA_STANDOUT
  characters are displayed in standout mode
WA_UNDERLINE
  characters are displayed underlined
WA_REVERSE
  characters are displayed in inverse video
WA_BLINK
  characters blink
WA_DIM
  characters are displayed at a lower intensity
WA_BOLD
  characters are displayed at a higher intensity
WA_INVIS
  characters are added invisibly
WA_PROTECT
  characters are protected from modification
WA_ALTCHARSET
  characters are displayed using the alternate character set (ACS)
WA_LOW
  characters are displayed with low highlight
WA_TOP
  characters are displayed with top highlight
WA_HORIZONTAL
  characters are displayed with horizontal highlight
WA_VERTICAL
  characters are displayed with vertical highlight
WA_LEFT
  characters are displayed with left highlight
WA_RIGHT
  characters are displayed with right highlight

The `attr_on`() function turns on the wide attributes specified in attr on `stdscr`, while the `attr_off`() function turns off the wide attributes specified in attr on `stdscr`.

The function `attr_set`() sets the wide attributes of `stdscr` to those specified in attr and pair, turning off any others. Note that a color pair specified in pair will override any color pair specified in attr.

The function `attr_get`() sets attr to the wide attributes and pair to the color pair currently applied to `stdscr`. Either of attr and pair can be `NULL`, if the relevant value is of no interest.

The function `term_attrs`() returns the logical OR of wide attributes that can be applied to the screen.

The functions `wattr_on`(), `wattr_off`() and `wattr_set`() are equivalent to `attr_on`(), `attr_off`() and `attr_set`() respectively, excepting that the character is added to the window specified by win.

The function `wattr_get`() is equivalent to `attr_get`(), excepting that the wide attributes and color pair currently applied to win are set.

The following constants can be used to extract the components of a `chtype`:

A_ATTRIBUTES
  bit-mask containing attributes part
A_CHARTEXT
  bit-mask containing character part
A_COLOR
  bit-mask containing color-pair part

# RETURN VALUES

These functions return OK on success and ERR on failure.

# SEE ALSO

curses_addch(3), curses_addchstr(3), curses_addstr(3), curses_background(3), curses_color(3), curses_insch(3), curses_standout(3), curses_underscore(3)

# NOTES

The opt argument is not currently used but is reserved for a future version of the specification.

# STANDARDS

The NetBSD Curses library complies with the X/Open Curses specification, part of the Single Unix Specification.

The `getattrs`() function is a NetBSD extension.

# HISTORY

These functions first appeared in NetBSD 1.5.

# BUGS

Some terminals do not support characters with both color and other attributes set. In this case, the other attribute is displayed instead of the color attribute.

October 25, 2018 | NetBSD 9.3