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Date:      Thu, 4 Apr 2002 13:12:56 -0500
From:      "David S. Jackson" <deepbsd@earthlink.net>
To:        Kirk Strauser <kirk@strauser.com>
Cc:        freebsd-questions@freebsd.org
Subject:   Re: Default 'TERM' value
Message-ID:  <20020404131256.K32443@sylvester.dsj.net>
In-Reply-To: <87hemszppi.fsf@pooh.int>; from kirk@strauser.com on Wed, Apr 03, 2002 at 10:55:53AM -0600
References:  <87hemszppi.fsf@pooh.int>

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On Wed, Apr 03, 2002 at 10:55:53AM -0600 Kirk Strauser <kirk@strauser.com> wrote:
> What's a good way to set the default value of $TERM to 'xterm-color' when
> I'm using X?

Your $TERM variable is a shell variable.  It's set in your
shell's startup scripts, either globally or in your home
directory.  If you want to see what it is, open an xterm or rxvt
and go echo $TERM.  

Then, go to a virtual terminal (alt-f2, say) and log in, and type
echo $TERM.  Normally, your console is set to cons25 for virtual
terminals and xterm for X terminals.  

If all you really want is colors in your directory listings, then
install colorls or gnuls and alias ls=gnuls or alias ls=colorls
accordingly.

If you're wondering why gnome-terminal doesn't seem to recognize
your $TERM variable, it's not your fault: gnome-terminal itself
doesn't want to.  You have to set that in gnome-terminal's
settings.  Just set your colorscheme to rxvt and your
foreground/background colors to white/black.  Or whatever you
want.  That will just apply to gnome-terminal, not your other
terms.

You want to let each of your terminals to try and "do the right
thing" by its default settings.  You don't want to set TERM to be
correct with gnome-terminal but break when you use an xterm or
rxvt.  So whatever you do, keep settings changes as narrowly
applicable as makes sense.


-- 
David S. Jackson                        dsj@dsj.net
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
It is impossible to experience one's death objectively
and still carry a tune.
		-- Woody Allen

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