# $window-chars(5)

[Home] [Commands] [Variables] [Macro-Dev] [Glossary]

## NAME

$window-chars - Character set used to render the windows

## SYNOPSIS

$window-chars "sting"; Default is "`=-#*%=^|#|v*==^^||##||vv**|<-#->*||<<--##-->>** x*[]>\.$$\`"

## DESCRIPTION

$window-chars is a fixed length string that defines the set of characters used to render the windows. The characters have fixed indices defined as follows:-

Index 0

The active window mode line separator character, This replaces all Index 1 characters when the window is current. Default is '='.

Index 1

The inactive window mode line separator character. This character is replaced by Index 0 characters when the window becomes current. Default is '-'.

Index 2

UNIX based platforms only. The root or superuser indicator character that appears on the mode line. Default is '#'.

Index 3

The buffer changed indicator character that appears on the mode line. Default is '*'.

Index 4

The buffer in view(2m) mode indicator character that appears in the mode line. Default is '%'.

Index 5

Single column vertical scroll bar split window horizontally character. Default is '='.

Index 6

Single column vertical scroll bar up-arrow character. Default is '^'.

Index 7

Single column vertical scroll bar upper-shaft character. Default is '|'.

Index 8

Single column vertical scroll box character. Default is '#'.

Index 9

Single column vertical scroll bar lower-shaft character. Default is '|'.

Index 10

Single column vertical scroll bar down-arrow character. Default is 'v'.

Index 11

Single column vertical scroll bar corner character. Default is '*'.

Index 12-13

Double column vertical scroll bar split window horizontally character. Default is '=='.

Index 14-15

Double column vertical scroll bar up-arrow characters. Default is "^".

Index 16-17

Double column vertical scroll bar upper-shaft characters. Default is "||".

Index 18-19

Double column vertical scroll box characters. Default is "##".

Index 20-21

Double column vertical scroll bar lower-shaft characters. Default is "||".

Index 22-23

Double column vertical scroll bar down-arrow characters. Default is "vv".

Index 24-25

Double column vertical scroll bar corner characters. Default is "**".

Index 26-32

Single column horizontal scroll bar. Default is "|<-#->*".

Index 33-46

Double column horizontal scroll bar. Default is "||<<--##-->>**".

Index 47

Osd title bar blank character. Default is ' '.

Index 48

Osd title bar right corner kill character. Default is 'x'.

Index 49

Osd dialog bottom right corner resize character. Default is '*'.

Index 50-53

Osd button characters. 50 & 52 are used for a normal button, default is ' Button '. 51 & 53 are used for the current default button, default is '>Button<'.

Index 54

Displayed tab character (used when $system(5) bit 0x80000 is set). Default is '>'.

Index 55

Displayed new-line character (used when $system(5) bit 0x80000 is set). Default is '\'.

Index 56

Displayed space character (used when $system(5) bit 0x80000 is set). Default is '.'.

Index 57

Displayed truncated text to left character (used when the current line is scrolled to the right). Default is '$'.

Index 58

Displayed truncated text to right character (used when the current line is longer than the window width). Default is '$'.

Index 59

Inserted end of wrapped line character in an ipipe-shell-command(2) buffer. Default is '\'.

## EXAMPLE

The $window-chars is typically platform dependent, it's setting is determined by the characters available in character set of the hosting platform. MS-DOS and Microsoft Windows use an OEM font might use the following value:

    "=-#*%=\C^\xB1 \xB1\C_\CD==\C^\C^\xB1\xB1  \xB1\xB1\C_\C_\C[
    \CZ|\CQ\xB1 \xB1\CP\CD||\CQ\CQ\xB1\xB1  \xB1\xB1\CP\CP\C[
    \CZ x*  >\\.$$\\"

This utilizes character-set specific characters to render some of the window components.

## NOTES

- $scroll-bar(5) allows the scroll box to be rendered in reverse video allowing a space to be used for the scroll box.
- Use insert-symbol(3) to determine the displayable characters on the host platform.
- The use of MicroEmacs's extended character set on Windows and XTerm platforms can greatly improve the look and usability of MicroEmacs, see the Extend Char Set option in the Platform page of user-setup(3) and bit `0x10000` of variable $system(5).

## SEE ALSO

split-window-horizontally(2), insert-symbol(3), $box-chars(5), $global-scheme(5), $mode-line(5), $mode-line-scheme(5), $scroll-bar(5), $scroll-bar-scheme(5), $system(5).

(c) Copyright JASSPA 2009
Last Modified: 2009/08/29
Generated On: 2009/10/12

</HMTL>