---
name: "sxpm"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "libxpm"
version: "3.5.20-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/sxpm"
---

# sxpm(1)

Show an XPM (X PixMap) file and/or convert XPM 1 or 2 files to XPM 3.

## NAME

sxpm - Show an XPM (X PixMap) file and/or convert XPM 1 or 2 files to XPM 3.

## SYNOPSIS

**sxpm** \[**-d** displayname\] \[**-g** geometry\] \[**-hints**\] \[**-icon** filename\] \[**-plaid \|** filename \| -\] \[**-o** filename \| **-o** -\] \[**-pcmap**\] \[**-closecolors**\] \[**-nod**\] \[**-nom**\] \[**-mono \| -grey4 \| -grey \| -color**\] \[**-sc** symbol color\] \[**-sp** symbol pixel\] \[**-cp** color pixel\] \[**-rgb** filename\] \[**-v**\]

## DESCRIPTION

The *sxpm* program can be used to view any XPM (version 1, 2, or 3) file and/or to convert a file from XPM1 or XPM2 to XPM version 3. If *sxpm* is run with any dummy option specified, the usage is displayed. If no geometry is specified, the show window will have the size of the read pixmap. Pressing the key Q in the window will quit the program.

## OPTIONS

- **-d *display***

  Specifies the display to connect to.

- **-g *geom***

  Window geometry (default is pixmap's size).

- **-hints**

  Set ResizeInc for window.

- **-icon *filename***

  Set icon to pixmap created from the file *filename*.

- **-plaid**

  Show the plaid pixmap which is stored as data*.*

- ***filename***

  *Read from the file filename or* *from standard input if filename is '-'.* *If no input is specified sxpm reads from standard input.*

- **-o *filename***

  *Write to the file filename (overwrite if it already exists) and to* *standard output if filename is '-'.*

- **-mono**

  *Use the colors specified for a monochrome visual.*

- **-grey4**

  *Use the colors specified for a 4 color greyscale visual.*

- **-grey**

  *Use the colors specified for a greyscale visual.*

- **-color**

  *Use the colors specified for a color visual.*

- **-pcmap**

  *Use a private colormap.*

- **-closecolors**

  *Try to use "close colors" before reverting to other visuals.*

- **-nod**

  *Do not display the pixmap in a window.* *(Useful when using as converter)*

- **-nom**

  *Do not use the clipmask if there is any.*

- **-sc *symbol colorname***

  *Override default color to symbol to colorname.*

- **-sp *symbol pixelvalue***

  *Override default color to symbol to pixelvalue.*

- **-cp *colorname pixelvalue***

  *Override default color to colorname to pixelvalue.*

- **-rgb *filename***

  *Search color names in the file filename and write them out instead of* *the rgb values.*

- **-v**

  *Verbose - to print out extensions (stderr).*

## KNOWN BUGS

*Some window managers may not accept a pixmap which is not a bitmap as icon* *because this does not respect ICCCM, many of the well known ones will accept* *it though.*

## AUTHOR

*Arnaud Le Hors    (lehors@sophia.inria.fr)*\
 *Bull Research France*\
 *Copyright (C) 1989-95 by Groupe Bull.*