---
name: "form_opts"
section: "3form"
platform: "linux"
package: "ncurses-doc"
version: "6.5+20250216-2"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/opts"
---

# form\_opts(3form)

set and get form options

Part of [opts(3form)](/opts/3form.md).

## NAME

**set\_form\_opts**, **form\_opts\_on**, **form\_opts\_off**, **form\_opts** - set and get form options

## SYNOPSIS

```
#include <form.h>
```

**int set\_form\_opts(FORM \****form***, Field\_Options** *opts***);** **Field\_Options form\_opts(const FORM \****form***);**

**int form\_opts\_on(FORM \****form***, Field\_Options** *opts***);** **int form\_opts\_off(FORM \****form***, Field\_Options** *opts***);**

## DESCRIPTION

**The function set\_form\_opts sets all the given form's option bits** **(form option bits may be logically “or”-ed together).**

**The function form\_opts\_on turns on the given option bits, and leaves** **others alone.**

**The function form\_opts\_off turns off the given option bits, and leaves** **others alone.**

**The function form\_opts returns the form's current option bits.**

**The following options are defined (all are on by default):**

- **O\_NL\_OVERLOAD**

  **Overload the REQ\_NEW\_LINE forms driver request so that calling it at the** **end of a field goes to the next field.**

- **O\_BS\_OVERLOAD**

  **Overload the REQ\_DEL\_PREV forms driver request so that calling it at the** **beginning of a field goes to the previous field.**

## RETURN VALUE

**Except for form\_opts, each routine returns one of the following:**

- **E\_OK**

  **The routine succeeded.**

- **E\_SYSTEM\_ERROR**

  **System error occurred (see [errno(3)](/errno/3.md)).**

## PORTABILITY

**These routines emulate the System V forms library.** **They were not supported on** **Version 7 or BSD versions.**

## AUTHORS

**Juergen Pfeifer.** **Manual pages and adaptation for new curses by Eric S. Raymond.**

## SEE ALSO

**ncurses(3NCURSES),** **form(3FORM)**