Home/ Questions/Q 5721
Next
In Process

askthedev.com Latest Questions

Asked: 2024-09-25T06:34:22+05:30 In:

How can I adjust the default font size in xterm on my Ubuntu system?

I’ve been trying to figure out how to adjust the default font size in xterm on my Ubuntu system, and I’m hitting a bit of a wall. So, here’s the deal: I’ve been using xterm for my terminal needs, mostly because it’s lightweight and doesn’t drain too many resources. However, I’ve recently started doing a lot of coding and terminal work, and I’ve found that the default font size is a bit too small for my aging eyes. It makes it hard to read the code and error messages, and I definitely can’t squint at the screen all day without going cross-eyed.

I did some digging online, and while I found some instructions, they either seemed a bit outdated or just didn’t work for me. I’ve tried changing settings in the .Xresources file, and it did have some impact, but it wasn’t quite what I was hoping for. I also saw mentions of using the ‘-fa’ option to set the font from the command line when launching xterm, but honestly, that doesn’t stick when I close and reopen it. Is there a way to make that change permanent without having to remember to use command-line switches every time?

And while we’re at it, I saw some suggestions about using GUI tools like ‘lxappearance’ to change fonts across the system, but does that even apply to xterm? Are there any better alternatives to xterm that are easier to customize or have better font handling right out of the box? I just want my terminal to be comfortable enough to work in for long periods, but all these settings can be a bit overwhelming, especially since I’m more of a casual user than a tech expert.

If anyone has a step-by-step solution or even some tips on how to make xterm more visually pleasing without compromising performance, I’d really appreciate it! It’s super frustrating when something as simple as font size gets in the way of productivity. Thanks in advance for any help!

Share

    Leave an answer

    You must login to add an answer.

    Need An Account,

    2 Answers


    1. Changing Font Size in xterm on Ubuntu

      Adjusting the font size in xterm can definitely make your life easier, especially if you’re spending a lot of time staring at the terminal! Here’s how you can make that change permanent:

      Step 1: Edit the .Xresources File

      First, you’ve probably already noticed the .Xresources file in your home directory. This file is used to customize the appearance of xterm. Let’s edit it:

      1. Open a terminal and type nano ~/.Xresources (or use any text editor you like).
      2. Add the following lines to set the font size (feel free to adjust the size as you need):
        3. XTerm*faceName: monospace
XTerm*faceSize: 14
      3. Save the file and exit the editor (in nano, you can do this with Ctrl + X, then Y, then Enter).

      Step 2: Apply Your Changes

      Next, you’ll need to load the changes you just made:

      1. Run xrdb -merge ~/.Xresources in the terminal to apply the changes.

      Step 3: Start xterm

      Now, just start a new xterm window, and you should see that the font size has been updated to your specifications!

      Alternative Method: Command-Line Option

      If you want to try the command line method without editing files, you can open xterm with a specific font size using:

      xterm -fa 'Monospace' -fs 14

      This won’t stick after you close it, though.

      Using GUI Tools

      About using GUI tools like lxappearance, they mostly change the appearance of GTK applications, but that doesn’t typically affect xterm since it’s an X application. So, using .Xresources is the best bet for xterm.

      Alternatives to xterm

      If you’re still struggling, you might find other terminals like gnome-terminal or terminator easier to use and customize. They often have more straightforward settings in GUI forms!

      With these changes, you’ll definitely have a better experience. Happy coding!



    2. To adjust the default font size in xterm on your Ubuntu system, you can modify your `.Xresources` file for a more permanent solution. First, open your terminal and use the command `nano ~/.Xresources` to edit the file (if it doesn’t exist, you can create it). In this file, you want to add or modify the following lines to specify the font and its size:

      XTerm*faceName: DejaVu Sans Mono
XTerm*faceSize: 12

      After making your changes, save the file and exit the editor. To apply the changes, run the command `xrdb -merge ~/.Xresources`. Now, each time you launch xterm, it should reflect the new font settings. Regarding the use of the command line with the `-fa` option, that only sets the font for that session. For GUI-based tools like `lxappearance`, they typically do not affect xterm specifically since xterm uses X resources rather than general system settings. If you’re looking for better alternatives, consider using terminal emulators such as `Terminator` or `Alacritty`, which offer more customization options and improved font handling automatically.


    Related Questions