curs_slk(3X)curs_slk(3X)NAME
slk_init, slk_set, slk_refresh, slk_noutrefresh, slk_label, slk_clear,
slk_restore, slk_touch, slk_attron, slk_attrset, slk_attroff - curses
soft label routines
SYNOPSIS
#include <curses.h>
int slk_init(int fmt);
int slk_set(int labnum, const char *label, int fmt);
int slk_refresh(void);
int slk_noutrefresh(void);
char *slk_label(int labnum);
int slk_clear(void);
int slk_restore(void);
int slk_touch(void);
int slk_attron(attr_t attrs);
int slk_attrset(attr_t attrs);
attr_t slk_attr(void);
int slk_attroff(attr_t attrs);
DESCRIPTION
The slk* functions manipulate the set of soft function-key labels that
exist on many terminals. For those terminals that do not have soft
labels, curses takes over the bottom line of stdscr, reducing the size
of stdscr and the variable LINES. curses standardizes on eight labels
of up to eight characters each. In addition to this, the ncurses imple‐
mentation supports a mode where it simulates 12 labels of up to five
characters each. This is most common for todays PC like enduser
devices. Please note that ncurses simulates this mode by taking over
up to two lines at the bottom of the screen, it doesn't try to use any
hardware support for this mode.
The slk_init routine must be called before initscr or newterm is
called. If initscr eventually uses a line from stdscr to emulate the
soft labels, then fmt determines how the labels are arranged on the
screen. Setting fmt to 0 indicates a 3-2-3 arrangement of the labels,
1 indicates a 4-4 arrangement and 2 indicates the PC like 4-4-4 mode.
If fmt is set to 3, it is again the PC like 4-4-4 mode, but in addition
an index line is generated, helping the user to identify the key num‐
bers easily.
The slk_set routine requires labnum to be a label number, from 1 to 8
(resp. 12); label must be the string to be put on the label, up to
eight (resp. five) characters in length. A null string or a null
pointer sets up a blank label. fmt is either 0, 1, or 2, indicating
whether the label is to be left-justified, centered, or right-justi‐
fied, respectively, within the label.
The slk_refresh and slk_noutrefresh routines correspond to the wrefresh
and wnoutrefresh routines.
The slk_label routine returns the current label for label number lab‐
num, with leading and trailing blanks stripped.
The slk_clear routine clears the soft labels from the screen.
The slk_restore routine, restores the soft labels to the screen after a
slk_clear has been performed.
The slk_touch routine forces all the soft labels to be output the next
time a slk_noutrefresh is performed.
The slk_attron, slk_attrset, slk_attroff and slk_attr routines corre‐
spond to attron, attrset, attroff and attr_get. They have an effect
only if soft labels are simulated on the bottom line of the screen.
The default highlight for soft keys is A_STANDOUT (as in System V
curses, which does not document this fact).
RETURN VALUE
These routines return ERR upon failure and OK (SVr4 specifies only "an
integer value other than ERR") upon successful completion. slk_attr
returns the attribute used for the soft keys.
slk_label returns NULL on error.
NOTES
Most applications would use slk_noutrefresh because a wrefresh is
likely to follow soon.
PORTABILITY
The XSI Curses standard, Issue 4, describes these functions. It
changes the argument type of the attribute-manipulation functions
slk_attron, slk_attroff, slk_attrset to be attr_t, and adds const qual‐
ifiers. The format codes 2 and 3 for slk_init() and the function
slk_attr are specific to ncurses.
SEE ALSOcurses(3X), curs_attr(3X), curs_initscr(3X), curs_refresh(3X)curs_slk(3X)
