tput(1)tput(1)NAMEtput - query terminfo database
SYNOPSIS
type] capname...
type] capname [parms...]
DESCRIPTION
The command uses the database to make terminal-dependent capabilities
and information available to the shell (see terminfo(4)). The command
outputs a string if the attribute (capname) is of type string, or an
integer if the attribute is of type integer. If the attribute is of
type boolean, simply sets the exit code for TRUE, for FALSE), and pro‐
duces no output.
Command-line Arguments
The command recognizes the following command-line arguments:
Indicates the type of terminal.
Normally this flag is unnecessary because the
default is taken from the environment variable
capname Indicates the attribute from the database. See
terminfo(4). In addition, the following capnames
are supported:
Echo the clear-screen sequence for the cur‐
rent terminal.
Echo the initialize sequence for the current
terminal.
Echo the sequence that will reset the cur‐
rent terminal.
parms If the capname takes optional numeric parameters,
the parms will be placed in the string output by
The capnames are read from stdin and multiple cap‐
names are allowed. Only one capname is allowed
per line when reading from stdin.
EXTERNAL INFLUENCES
Environment Variables
determines the locale to use. This overrides settings of other envi‐
ronment variables.
determines the language to use for messages.
determines the terminal type if the option is not specified.
EXAMPLES
Echo clear-screen sequence for the current terminal.
Print the number of columns for the current terminal.
Print the number of columns for the 70092 terminal.
Set shell variable to stand-out-mode sequence for current terminal.
This might be followed by a prompt:
Set exit code to indicate if current terminal is a hard copy terminal.
Clear the screen, move the cursor to line 10, column 20 and turn on
bold.
RETURN VALUE
If capname is of type boolean, then the exit code is set to for true
and for false.
If capname is not of type boolean and fails, an error message is
printed, and exit code is set to one of the following depending on the
failure:
The capability name is of type integer and does not exist.
Usage error.
Unknown terminal type.
Unknown capability name.
An error occurred.
If the exit code is a is printed if a capability name of type integer
is requested for a terminal that has no entry for that capability name
in the database (such as
FILES
Terminfo data base
Definition files
SEE ALSO
stty(1), untic(1M), terminfo(4).
STANDARDS CONFORMANCEtput(1)
