Padding Capabilities

There are two terminal capabilities that exist just to explain the proper way to obey the padding specifications in all the command string capabilities. One, `pc', must be obeyed by all termcap-using programs.

`pb'

Numeric value, the lowest baud rate at which padding is actually needed. Programs may check this and refrain from doing any padding at lower speeds.

`pc'

String of commands for padding. The first character of this string is to be used as the pad character, instead of using null characters for padding. If `pc' is not provided, use null characters. Every program that uses termcap must look up this capability and use it to set the variable PC that is used by tputs. See section Padding.

Some termcap capabilities exist just to specify the amount of padding that the kernel should give to cursor motion commands used in ordinary sequential output.

`dC'

Numeric value, the number of msec of padding needed for the carriage-return character.

`dN'

Numeric value, the number of msec of padding needed for the newline (linefeed) character.

`dB'

Numeric value, the number of msec of padding needed for the backspace character.

`dF'

Numeric value, the number of msec of padding needed for the formfeed character.

`dT'

Numeric value, the number of msec of padding needed for the tab character.

In some systems, the kernel uses the above capabilities; in other systems, the kernel uses the paddings specified in the string capabilities `cr', `sf', `le', `ff' and `ta'. Descriptions of terminals which require such padding should contain the `dC' ... `dT' capabilities and also specify the appropriate padding in the corresponding string capabilities. Since no modern terminals require padding for ordinary sequential output, you probably won't need to do either of these things.

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