A PROTERMCAP entry is a single logical line that contains many fields. The syntax for an entry is as follows:

  • Each field is terminated by a colon (:). (Use the octal equivalent \072 to specify a colon that is not a terminator.)
  • Unless stated otherwise, a field cannot contain embedded separators. Spaces and tabs improve readability, but they are considered empty fields and must be terminated by a colon.
  • Comment lines begin with a pound sign (#), and can only occur at the beginning and end of each PROTERMCAP terminal entry (that is, before the terminal name line and after the pointer to key functions line).
  • To enhance readability, the PROTERMCAP file, as installed, contains as many physical lines as there are fields. Each physical line in the entry contains the following, in the order listed:
    • An empty field consisting of a tab character
    • A field definition
    • A backslash (\)
    • A return

    The backslash indicates that the terminal entry continues on the next physical line of the file. If you need to include a literal backslash in a field, use two backslashes.

The following code fragment from the entry for the Wyse 370 shows the use of the colon, tab, space, backslash, and return characters:

wy370|wyse370|wyse_370|wyse 370 running in native mode:\
  :  :\
  :ct:\
  :cm=\E[%i%d;%dH:\
  :co#80:\
  :li#24:\
  :G1=k:
  :  :\
  :GO(F1)=\EOP:\
  :HELP(F2)=\EOQ:\
  :  :\
  :COLOR 5 RED/BLACK=\E[31;40m:\E[m:\
  :COLOR 6 GREEN/BLACK=\E[32;40m:\E[m: