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

# menu\_spacing(3menu)

set and get spacing between menu items.

Part of [spacing(3menu)](/spacing/3menu.md).

## NAME

**set\_menu\_spacing**, **menu\_spacing** - set and get spacing between menu items.

## SYNOPSIS

```
#include <menu.h>
```

**int set\_menu\_spacing(MENU \****menu***,**\
                      **int** *spc\_description***,**\
                      **int** *spc\_rows***,**\
                      **int** *spc\_columns***);** **int menu\_spacing(const MENU \****menu***,**\
                  **int\*** *spc\_description***,**\
                  **int\*** *spc\_rows***,**\
                  **int\*** *spc\_columns***);**

## DESCRIPTION

The function **set\_menu\_spacing** sets the spacing information for the menu. Its parameters provide the description and the size (in rows and columns).

- *spc\_description*

  controls the number of spaces between an item name and an item description. It must not be larger than **TABSIZE**. The menu system puts in the middle of this spacing area the pad character. The remaining parts are filled with spaces.

- *spc\_rows*

  controls the number of rows that are used for an item. It must not be larger than 3. The menu system inserts the blank lines between item rows, these lines will contain the pad character in the appropriate positions.

- *spc\_columns*

  controls the number of blanks between columns of items. It must not be larger than **TABSIZE**. A value of 0 for all the spacing values resets them to the default, which is 1 for all of them.

The function **menu\_spacing** returns the spacing information for the menu. If a pointer is *NULL*, the corresponding information is simply not returned.

## RETURN VALUE

Both routines return **E\_OK** on success. **set\_menu\_spacing** may return **E\_POSTED** if the menu is posted, or **E\_BAD\_ARGUMENT** if one of the spacing values is out of range.

## PORTABILITY

These routines are specific to *ncurses*. They were not supported on Version 7, BSD or System V implementations. It is recommended that any code depending on them be conditioned using NCURSES\_VERSION.

## AUTHORS

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

## SEE ALSO

**ncurses**(3NCURSES), **curses\_variables**(3NCURSES), **menu**(3MENU)