Source Code File 15-01_cursset

15-01_cursset.c

#include <ncurses.h>

int main()
{
    initscr();

/* first, turn the cursor off */
    curs_set(0);
    addstr("  <- The cursor has been turned off");
    move(0,0);
    refresh();
    getch();

/* second, turn the cursor on */
    curs_set(1);
    addstr("\n  <- The cursor now on");
    move(1,0);
    refresh();
    getch();

/* third, turn the cursor very on */
    curs_set(2);
    addstr("\n  <- The cursor is now very on");
    move(2,0);
    refresh();
    getch();

    endwin();
    return(0);
}

Output Screenshot

(Click to cycle images.)

Notes

* In the sample output (above), you see the cursor turned off, then the cursor on. The cursor "very on" setting usually shows a solid or bright cursor, though the terminal emulator (iTerm on the Mac) doesn't support that setting in the configuration I used.

* The only terminal emulator where I've gotten this code to work completely is a novelty program called Cathode, available for the Macintosh. Cathode delightfully emulates old video terminals, complete with phosphor burn-in and flickering. When run on Cathode, curs_set(0) turns off the cursor, curs_set(1) shows the standard, blinking cursor, and curs_set(2) disables the cursor's blinking.

* By the way, I used a screenshot of Cathode for the eBook's cover.

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