How to customize xterm

Question

I would like to customize xterm because the default font-size is pretty small. I would also like to change my xterm font to Inconsolata.

I have a few questions.

• How would i know my default xterm font-size and font-family(xrdb -query don't show my font information)?
• What is the path for my xterm font?
• What are the acceptable formats for xterm fonts?
• should i be only using Monospace?
• Where i should be storing configuration?
• Would it only affect xterm or other terminals like gnome-terminal?
• Any standard format for xterm configuration?

I've google a bit but just got me confused because i can't seem to find a standard syntax for some configuration. Others use the classname xterm or XTerm and with regards to fontsize:

I've found a lot of formats. Like:

XTerm*faceName: Monospace:size=20

or

xterm*font:     *-fixed-*-*-*-18-*

or

xterm -fa "fontname"

I'm using Ubuntu 12.04LTS. I'm overwhelmed by the manpage of xterm since i'm just a beginner. I would like to get help from you guys.

Solution

you can use xfontsel to get the correct name of some fonts installed on your system. Then call it using for example xterm -fa "-*-nimbus mono l-*"

(you can also control+right click on the xterm window to get a menu)

But I advice you to use gnome-terminal or other alternative such as sakura or lxterminal which are easier to configure.

Comments

[msw]

Do you know that you are running xterm and not the default gnome-terminal? You are correct, xterm configuration is an obnoxious, historically crufty mess; gnome-terminal has an Edit→Profiles menu which is far, far easier.

[chanHXC]

in ubuntu, i search xterm.

[chanHXC]

but others say that gnome-terminal is resource heavy. and i'm using xterm for vim which show colors 256colorschemes better than gnome-terminal.

[msw]

You should be using gvim if you want a vim in a window. You are making this more complicated for yourself than it needs to be. That's another form of "resource heavy".

[SDsolar]

If you want to see more than you ever wanted to know about the xterm program, check this out: invisible-island.net/xterm/manpage/xterm.html

[SDsolar]

Here is a good Q&A that discusses this topic: askubuntu.com/questions/161652/…

[chanHXC]

what do those asterisks mean?

[SDsolar]

I really like the ctrl-right-click method. Quick and to the point, albeit temporary.