slk_attroff(), slk_attron(), slk_attrset(), slk_clear(), slk_init(), slk_label(), slk_noutrefresh(), slk_refresh(), slk_restore(), slk_set(), slk_touch()

curses soft label routines 

Curses Function


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 implementation supports a mode where it simulates 12 labels of up to five characters each. This is most common for today's PC-like end user 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 numbers 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-justified, 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 labnum, 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 correspond 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 VALUES

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() qualifiers. The format codes 2 and 3 for slk_init() and the function slk_attr() are specific to ncurses.


AVAILABILITY

PTC MKS Toolkit for Professional Developers
PTC MKS Toolkit for Enterprise Developers
PTC MKS Toolkit for Enterprise Developers 64-Bit Edition


SEE ALSO

Functions:
curs_attr(), curs_initscr(), curs_refresh(), curses()


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