How to use the command tput (with examples)
The tput command allows users to view and modify terminal settings and capabilities. It is useful for interacting with the terminal in various ways such as moving the cursor, changing colors, and obtaining terminal information.
Use case 1: Move the cursor to a screen location
Code:
tput cup row column
Motivation: Moving the cursor to a specific screen location can be useful for command-line applications that require precise positioning or for creating complex ASCII art.
Explanation: The cup capability of tput is used to move the cursor to the specified row and column on the screen. The row argument specifies the row number (starting from 0), and the column argument specifies the column number (starting from 0).
Example output: Suppose we want to move the cursor to the 10th row and the 20th column. We can use the following command:
tput cup 10 20
This will move the cursor to the specified location on the screen.
Use case 2: Set foreground or background color
Code:
tput setaf|setab ansi_color_code
Motivation: Changing the foreground or background color of the terminal can be useful for highlighting specific text or creating visually appealing interfaces.
Explanation: The setaf capability of tput is used to set the foreground color, while the setab capability is used to set the background color. The ansi_color_code argument specifies the desired color. ANSI color codes range from 0 to 255, where the lower numbers represent basic colors and the higher numbers represent more complex colors.
Example output: Suppose we want to set the foreground color to red. We can use the following command:
tput setaf 1
This will set the foreground color to red.
Use case 3: Show number of columns, lines, or colors
Code:
tput cols|lines|colors
Motivation: Knowing the number of columns, lines, or colors supported by the terminal can be useful for designing applications that adapt to the terminal’s capabilities.
Explanation: The cols capability of tput is used to display the number of columns in the terminal. The lines capability is used to display the number of lines, and the colors capability is used to display the number of colors supported by the terminal.
Example output: Suppose we want to know the number of columns in the terminal. We can use the following command:
tput cols
This will display the number of columns in the terminal.
Use case 4: Ring the terminal bell
Code:
tput bel
Motivation: Ringing the terminal bell can be useful for capturing the user’s attention or signaling the completion of a task.
Explanation: The bel capability of tput is used to ring the terminal bell.
Example output: When the following command is executed:
tput bel
It will ring the terminal bell, producing an audible alert.
Use case 5: Reset all terminal attributes
Code:
tput sgr0
Motivation: Resetting all terminal attributes can be useful for ensuring that the terminal is in a consistent state after making changes.
Explanation: The sgr0 capability of tput is used to reset all terminal attributes.
Example output: When the following command is executed:
tput sgr0
It will reset all terminal attributes, reverting the terminal to its default state.
Use case 6: Enable or disable word wrap
Code:
tput smam|rmam
Motivation: Enabling or disabling word wrap can be useful for controlling how text is displayed in the terminal.
Explanation: The smam capability of tput is used to enable automatic margins and enable word wrap, while the rmam capability is used to disable automatic margins and disable word wrap.
Example output: To enable word wrap, we can use the following command:
tput smam
This will enable word wrap in the terminal.
