Xresources

.Xresources is a file used to set preferences on [X11] and software like [URXVT].

The file .Xdefaults is also still used but is considered obsolete. Still, it is useful if you want to try stuff out before committing setting to xrdb and many of the settings made in ~/.Xdefaults will have a higher precedence over the settings applied to xrdb by ~/.Xresources.

Usage

To see what is in xrdb

xrdb -query -all

To merge existing settings in xrdb with settings in an edited .Xresources file (which is generally in the home directory)

xrdb -merge ~/.Xresources

To overwrite ALL the settings in xrdb

xrdb ~/.Xresources

WARNING! If you use that last command, you won't be able to revert the changes. Perhaps it would be wise to create a backup of your xrdb settings before committing changes. Like so.

xrdb -query -all > ~/.Xresources.backup

See Also

• X11
• URXVT
• Bash

External Links

• Xresources on the Arch Linux Wiki
• http://www.linuxdocs.org/HOWTOs/XWindow-User-HOWTO-8.html
• http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/XWindow-User-HOWTO/moreconfig.html
• http://www.designmatrix.com/services/XResources_syntax.html