6.13.3 Constants

The curses module defines the following data members:

ERR: Some curses routines that return an integer, such as getch(), return ERR upon failure.

OK: Some curses routines that return an integer, such as napms(), return OK upon success.

version: A string representing the current version of the module. Also available as __version__.

Several constants are available to specify character cell attributes:

Attribute Meaning

A_ALTCHARSET Alternate character set mode.
A_BLINK Blink mode.
A_BOLD Bold mode.
A_DIM Dim mode.
A_NORMAL Normal attribute.
A_STANDOUT Standout mode.
A_UNDERLINE Underline mode.

Attribute	Meaning
`A_ALTCHARSET`	Alternate character set mode.
`A_BLINK`	Blink mode.
`A_BOLD`	Bold mode.
`A_DIM`	Dim mode.
`A_NORMAL`	Normal attribute.
`A_STANDOUT`	Standout mode.
`A_UNDERLINE`	Underline mode.

Keys are referred to by integer constants with names starting with "KEY_". The exact keycaps available are system dependent.

Key constant Key

KEY_MIN Minimum key value
KEY_BREAK Break key (unreliable)
KEY_DOWN Down-arrow
KEY_UP Up-arrow
KEY_LEFT Left-arrow
KEY_RIGHT Right-arrow
KEY_HOME Home key (upward+left arrow)
KEY_BACKSPACE Backspace (unreliable)
KEY_F0 Function keys. Up to 64 function keys are supported.
KEY_Fn Value of function key n
KEY_DL Delete line
KEY_IL Insert line
KEY_DC Delete character
KEY_IC Insert char or enter insert mode
KEY_EIC Exit insert char mode
KEY_CLEAR Clear screen
KEY_EOS Clear to end of screen
KEY_EOL Clear to end of line
KEY_SF Scroll 1 line forward
KEY_SR Scroll 1 line backward (reverse)
KEY_NPAGE Next page
KEY_PPAGE Previous page
KEY_STAB Set tab
KEY_CTAB Clear tab
KEY_CATAB Clear all tabs
KEY_ENTER Enter or send (unreliable)
KEY_SRESET Soft (partial) reset (unreliable)
KEY_RESET Reset or hard reset (unreliable)
KEY_PRINT Print
KEY_LL Home down or bottom (lower left)
KEY_A1 Upper left of keypad
KEY_A3 Upper right of keypad
KEY_B2 Center of keypad
KEY_C1 Lower left of keypad
KEY_C3 Lower right of keypad
KEY_BTAB Back tab
KEY_BEG Beg (beginning)
KEY_CANCEL Cancel
KEY_CLOSE Close
KEY_COMMAND Cmd (command)
KEY_COPY Copy
KEY_CREATE Create
KEY_END End
KEY_EXIT Exit
KEY_FIND Find
KEY_HELP Help
KEY_MARK Mark
KEY_MESSAGE Message
KEY_MOVE Move
KEY_NEXT Next
KEY_OPEN Open
KEY_OPTIONS Options
KEY_PREVIOUS Prev (previous)
KEY_REDO Redo
KEY_REFERENCE Ref (reference)
KEY_REFRESH Refresh
KEY_REPLACE Replace
KEY_RESTART Restart
KEY_RESUME Resume
KEY_SAVE Save
KEY_SBEG Shifted Beg (beginning)
KEY_SCANCEL Shifted Cancel
KEY_SCOMMAND Shifted Command
KEY_SCOPY Shifted Copy
KEY_SCREATE Shifted Create
KEY_SDC Shifted Delete char
KEY_SDL Shifted Delete line
KEY_SELECT Select
KEY_SEND Shifted End
KEY_SEOL Shifted Clear line
KEY_SEXIT Shifted Dxit
KEY_SFIND Shifted Find
KEY_SHELP Shifted Help
KEY_SHOME Shifted Home
KEY_SIC Shifted Input
KEY_SLEFT Shifted Left arrow
KEY_SMESSAGE Shifted Message
KEY_SMOVE Shifted Move
KEY_SNEXT Shifted Next
KEY_SOPTIONS Shifted Options
KEY_SPREVIOUS Shifted Prev
KEY_SPRINT Shifted Print
KEY_SREDO Shifted Redo
KEY_SREPLACE Shifted Replace
KEY_SRIGHT Shifted Right arrow
KEY_SRSUME Shifted Resume
KEY_SSAVE Shifted Save
KEY_SSUSPEND Shifted Suspend
KEY_SUNDO Shifted Undo
KEY_SUSPEND Suspend
KEY_UNDO Undo
KEY_MOUSE Mouse event has occurred
KEY_RESIZE Terminal resize event
KEY_MAX Maximum key value

Key constant	Key
`KEY_MIN`	Minimum key value
`KEY_BREAK`	Break key (unreliable)
`KEY_DOWN`	Down-arrow
`KEY_UP`	Up-arrow
`KEY_LEFT`	Left-arrow
`KEY_RIGHT`	Right-arrow
`KEY_HOME`	Home key (upward+left arrow)
`KEY_BACKSPACE`	Backspace (unreliable)
`KEY_F0`	Function keys. Up to 64 function keys are supported.
`KEY_Fn`	Value of function key `n`
`KEY_DL`	Delete line
`KEY_IL`	Insert line
`KEY_DC`	Delete character
`KEY_IC`	Insert char or enter insert mode
`KEY_EIC`	Exit insert char mode
`KEY_CLEAR`	Clear screen
`KEY_EOS`	Clear to end of screen
`KEY_EOL`	Clear to end of line
`KEY_SF`	Scroll 1 line forward
`KEY_SR`	Scroll 1 line backward (reverse)
`KEY_NPAGE`	Next page
`KEY_PPAGE`	Previous page
`KEY_STAB`	Set tab
`KEY_CTAB`	Clear tab
`KEY_CATAB`	Clear all tabs
`KEY_ENTER`	Enter or send (unreliable)
`KEY_SRESET`	Soft (partial) reset (unreliable)
`KEY_RESET`	Reset or hard reset (unreliable)
`KEY_PRINT`	Print
`KEY_LL`	Home down or bottom (lower left)
`KEY_A1`	Upper left of keypad
`KEY_A3`	Upper right of keypad
`KEY_B2`	Center of keypad
`KEY_C1`	Lower left of keypad
`KEY_C3`	Lower right of keypad
`KEY_BTAB`	Back tab
`KEY_BEG`	Beg (beginning)
`KEY_CANCEL`	Cancel
`KEY_CLOSE`	Close
`KEY_COMMAND`	Cmd (command)
`KEY_COPY`	Copy
`KEY_CREATE`	Create
`KEY_END`	End
`KEY_EXIT`	Exit
`KEY_FIND`	Find
`KEY_HELP`	Help
`KEY_MARK`	Mark
`KEY_MESSAGE`	Message
`KEY_MOVE`	Move
`KEY_NEXT`	Next
`KEY_OPEN`	Open
`KEY_OPTIONS`	Options
`KEY_PREVIOUS`	Prev (previous)
`KEY_REDO`	Redo
`KEY_REFERENCE`	Ref (reference)
`KEY_REFRESH`	Refresh
`KEY_REPLACE`	Replace
`KEY_RESTART`	Restart
`KEY_RESUME`	Resume
`KEY_SAVE`	Save
`KEY_SBEG`	Shifted Beg (beginning)
`KEY_SCANCEL`	Shifted Cancel
`KEY_SCOMMAND`	Shifted Command
`KEY_SCOPY`	Shifted Copy
`KEY_SCREATE`	Shifted Create
`KEY_SDC`	Shifted Delete char
`KEY_SDL`	Shifted Delete line
`KEY_SELECT`	Select
`KEY_SEND`	Shifted End
`KEY_SEOL`	Shifted Clear line
`KEY_SEXIT`	Shifted Dxit
`KEY_SFIND`	Shifted Find
`KEY_SHELP`	Shifted Help
`KEY_SHOME`	Shifted Home
`KEY_SIC`	Shifted Input
`KEY_SLEFT`	Shifted Left arrow
`KEY_SMESSAGE`	Shifted Message
`KEY_SMOVE`	Shifted Move
`KEY_SNEXT`	Shifted Next
`KEY_SOPTIONS`	Shifted Options
`KEY_SPREVIOUS`	Shifted Prev
`KEY_SPRINT`	Shifted Print
`KEY_SREDO`	Shifted Redo
`KEY_SREPLACE`	Shifted Replace
`KEY_SRIGHT`	Shifted Right arrow
`KEY_SRSUME`	Shifted Resume
`KEY_SSAVE`	Shifted Save
`KEY_SSUSPEND`	Shifted Suspend
`KEY_SUNDO`	Shifted Undo
`KEY_SUSPEND`	Suspend
`KEY_UNDO`	Undo
`KEY_MOUSE`	Mouse event has occurred
`KEY_RESIZE`	Terminal resize event
`KEY_MAX`	Maximum key value

On VT100s and their software emulations, such as X terminal emulators, there are normally at least four function keys (KEY_F1, KEY_F2, KEY_F3, KEY_F4) available, and the arrow keys mapped to KEY_UP, KEY_DOWN, KEY_LEFT and KEY_RIGHT in the obvious way. If your machine has a PC keybboard, it is safe to expect arrow keys and twelve function keys (older PC keyboards may have only ten function keys); also, the following keypad mappings are standard:

Keycap Constant

Insert KEY_IC
Delete KEY_DC
Home KEY_HOME
End KEY_END
Page Up KEY_NPAGE
Page Down KEY_PPAGE

Keycap	Constant
`Insert`	KEY_IC
`Delete`	KEY_DC
`Home`	KEY_HOME
`End`	KEY_END
`Page Up`	KEY_NPAGE
`Page Down`	KEY_PPAGE

The following table lists characters from the alternate character set. These are inherited from the VT100 terminal, and will generally be available on software emulations such as X terminals. When there is no graphic available, curses falls back on a crude printable ASCII approximation. Note: These are available only after initscr() has been called.

ACS code Meaning

ACS_BBSS alternate name for upper right corner
ACS_BLOCK solid square block
ACS_BOARD board of squares
ACS_BSBS alternate name for horizontal line
ACS_BSSB alternate name for upper left corner
ACS_BSSS alternate name for top tee
ACS_BTEE bottom tee
ACS_BULLET bullet
ACS_CKBOARD checker board (stipple)
ACS_DARROW arrow pointing down
ACS_DEGREE degree symbol
ACS_DIAMOND diamond
ACS_GEQUAL greater-than-or-equal-to
ACS_HLINE horizontal line
ACS_LANTERN lantern symbol
ACS_LARROW left arrow
ACS_LEQUAL less-than-or-equal-to
ACS_LLCORNER lower left-hand corner
ACS_LRCORNER lower right-hand corner
ACS_LTEE left tee
ACS_NEQUAL not-equal sign
ACS_PI letter pi
ACS_PLMINUS plus-or-minus sign
ACS_PLUS big plus sign
ACS_RARROW right arrow
ACS_RTEE right tee
ACS_S1 scan line 1
ACS_S3 scan line 3
ACS_S7 scan line 7
ACS_S9 scan line 9
ACS_SBBS alternate name for lower right corner
ACS_SBSB alternate name for vertical line
ACS_SBSS alternate name for right tee
ACS_SSBB alternate name for lower left corner
ACS_SSBS alternate name for bottom tee
ACS_SSSB alternate name for left tee
ACS_SSSS alternate name for crossover or big plus
ACS_STERLING pound sterling
ACS_TTEE top tee
ACS_UARROW up arrow
ACS_ULCORNER upper left corner
ACS_URCORNER upper right corner
ACS_VLINE vertical line

ACS code	Meaning
`ACS_BBSS`	alternate name for upper right corner
`ACS_BLOCK`	solid square block
`ACS_BOARD`	board of squares
`ACS_BSBS`	alternate name for horizontal line
`ACS_BSSB`	alternate name for upper left corner
`ACS_BSSS`	alternate name for top tee
`ACS_BTEE`	bottom tee
`ACS_BULLET`	bullet
`ACS_CKBOARD`	checker board (stipple)
`ACS_DARROW`	arrow pointing down
`ACS_DEGREE`	degree symbol
`ACS_DIAMOND`	diamond
`ACS_GEQUAL`	greater-than-or-equal-to
`ACS_HLINE`	horizontal line
`ACS_LANTERN`	lantern symbol
`ACS_LARROW`	left arrow
`ACS_LEQUAL`	less-than-or-equal-to
`ACS_LLCORNER`	lower left-hand corner
`ACS_LRCORNER`	lower right-hand corner
`ACS_LTEE`	left tee
`ACS_NEQUAL`	not-equal sign
`ACS_PI`	letter pi
`ACS_PLMINUS`	plus-or-minus sign
`ACS_PLUS`	big plus sign
`ACS_RARROW`	right arrow
`ACS_RTEE`	right tee
`ACS_S1`	scan line 1
`ACS_S3`	scan line 3
`ACS_S7`	scan line 7
`ACS_S9`	scan line 9
`ACS_SBBS`	alternate name for lower right corner
`ACS_SBSB`	alternate name for vertical line
`ACS_SBSS`	alternate name for right tee
`ACS_SSBB`	alternate name for lower left corner
`ACS_SSBS`	alternate name for bottom tee
`ACS_SSSB`	alternate name for left tee
`ACS_SSSS`	alternate name for crossover or big plus
`ACS_STERLING`	pound sterling
`ACS_TTEE`	top tee
`ACS_UARROW`	up arrow
`ACS_ULCORNER`	upper left corner
`ACS_URCORNER`	upper right corner
`ACS_VLINE`	vertical line

The following table lists the predefined colors:

Constant Color

COLOR_BLACK Black
COLOR_BLUE Blue
COLOR_CYAN Cyan (light greenish blue)
COLOR_GREEN Green
COLOR_MAGENTA Magenta (purplish red)
COLOR_RED Red
COLOR_WHITE White
COLOR_YELLOW Yellow

Constant	Color
`COLOR_BLACK`	Black
`COLOR_BLUE`	Blue
`COLOR_CYAN`	Cyan (light greenish blue)
`COLOR_GREEN`	Green
`COLOR_MAGENTA`	Magenta (purplish red)
`COLOR_RED`	Red
`COLOR_WHITE`	White
`COLOR_YELLOW`	Yellow

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