---
name: "osd_cat"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "xosd"
version: "2.2.14-12"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/osd_cat"
---

# osd\_cat(1)

X on-screen file displayer

## NAME

osd\_cat - X on-screen file displayer

## SYNOPSIS

**osd\_cat** \[*OPTION*\] \[*FILE*\]...\
 **osd\_cat** **-b percentage**\|**slider** \[*OPTION*\]

## DESCRIPTION

Display FILE, or standard input, on X screen.

- **-p**, **--pos**=*POS*

  This option tells **osd\_cat** where to display the text. *POS* can be **top**, **middle**, or **bottom**. The  default is **top**.

- **-o**, **--offset**=*OFFSET*

  This option specifies the *offset* from the top or bottom of screen the text is  displayed. The default is **0**.

- **-A**, **--align**=*ALIGN*

  This option tells **osd\_cat** where to display the text. *ALIGN* can be **left**, **right** or **center**. The  default is **left**.

- **-i**, **--indent**=*OFFSET*

  This option specifies the *INDENT* from the left of screen the text is displayed. The default is **0**.

- **-f**, **--font**=*FONT*

  This option specifies the *FONT* to be used for displaying the text. The default is **fixed**.

- **-c**, **--color**=*COLOR*

  This option specifies the *COLOR* to be used for displaying the text. The default is **red**.

- **-d**, **--delay**=*TIME*

  This option specifies the number of seconds the text is displayed. The default is **5** seconds.

- **-l**, **--lines**=*LINES*

  This option specifies the number of *LINES* to scroll the display over. The default is **5**.

- **-s**, **--shadow**=*OFFSET*

  This option specifies the *OFFSET* of the text shadow. The default is **0**, which means no text shadow is created.

- **-S**, **--shadowcolour**=*COLOUR*

  This option specifies the *COLOUR* of the text shadow.  The default is **black**.

- **-O**, **--outline**=*WIDTH*

  This option specifies the *WIDTH* of the text outline.  The default is **0**, which is no outline.

- **-u**, **--outlinecolour**=*COLOUR*

  This option specifies the *COLOUR* of the text outline.  The default is **black**.

- **-a**, **--age**\[=*SCROLL\_AGE*\]

  This option affects screen redrawing. If *SCROLL\_AGE* seconds pass before a new line is ready (for example, you're reading from a pipe), all lines are cleared at once instead of being scrolled off as new lines replace old lines. The default is **0**.\
   When no *SCROLL\_AGE* is explicitly given, the current value from *DELAY* is used.

- **-w**, **--wait**

  **This option also affects screen redrawing. When there is data ready to** **be put on screen, this option will cause osd\_cat to wait until the** **display is clear. An alternative to scrolling.**

- **-b, --barmode=***TYPE*

  **Lets you display a percentage or slider bar instead of just text.** *TYPE* **may be percentage or slider.** **In this mode no text is read from any file, but the following options can be used:**

- **-P, --percentage=***PERCENTAGE*

  **This option specified the position of the percentage / slider bar.** *PERCENTAGE* **may be in the range from 0 to 100, the default is 50.**

- **-T, --text=***TEXT*

  **This option specifies an optional** *TEXT* **which gets displayed above the percentage bar.** **The default is empty, so no additional text is displayed.**

- **-h, --help**

  **display help (which is often more up to date) and exit**

**With no** *FILE***, or when** *FILE* **is -, read standard input.**

## AUTHOR

**Martijn van de Streek \<martijn@foodfight.org\>, Some patching done by** **Malcolm Valentine \<farkit@iprimus.com.au\> and Tim Wright** **\<tim@ignavus.net\>.**\
 **xosd was written by Andre Renaud \<andre@ignavus.net\> and is maintained** **by Tim Wright \<tim@ignavus.net\>**

## SEE ALSO

**More information on the X OSD Library and its author can be found on** **http://www.ignavus.net/software.html** ⟨http://www.ignavus.net/software.html⟩

## COPYRIGHT

**It is distributed under the GNU General Public License.**