--- name: "urclock" section: "1" platform: "linux" package: "rxvt-unicode" version: "9.31-11" release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01" platforms: ["linux"] url: "https://new.carta.tech/urclock" --- # urclock(1) ## NAME urclock (oUR CLOCK) -- clock and appointment reminder for X11 ## SYNOPSIS ``` urclock [options] ``` ## DESCRIPTION **urclock** -- version **9.31** -- is an analog clock for X intended as an [*xclock*(1)](/xclock/1.md) replacement that conserves memory and has extra features: **urclock** enters reverse video if there is mail waiting; an appointment reminder is also builtin. ### OPTIONS The options supported by **urclock**: - **-display** *displayname* Attempt to open a window on the named X display. In the absence of this option, the display specified by the `"DISPLAY"` environment variable is used. - **-geometry** *geom* Create the window with the specified X window geometry \[default `"80x80"`\]. - **-bg** *color* Window background color \[default `"white"`\]. - **-fg** *color* Window foreground color \[default `"black"`\]. - **-fn** *fontname* Select font used for reminders \[default `"7x14"`\]. - **-nodate** Do not display today's date on the face of the clock. - **-iconic** Start iconified, if supported by the window manager. - **-adjust** *ddhhmm* Adjust the clock by +/- *ddhhmm* (*dd* = days, *hh* = hours, *mm* = minutes) to fix an incorrect clock without being root or for working in another time-zone. - **-update** *n* Update clock face every *n* seconds \[default `30`\]. If *n*=1, a seconds hand is displayed. - **-mail** *n* Check for new mail every *n* seconds \[default `60`\]. The actual interval is a multiple of the clock update interval. - **-mailfile** *mailfile* Override environmental variable `"MAIL"` with *mailfile* as location for mail. - **-mailspawn** *cmd* Execute *cmd* when the face of the clock is clicked by the mouse button. - **#***geom* Specify the preferred icon window size \[default `"65x65"`\]. Some of these options may not be available based on how urclock was compiled. Run **urclock -help** to determine which features are available. ## X RESOURCES No X resources are used -- only command-line options. ## TITLES AND ICONS The window and icon titles are set to the day of the week and the date. The date is also displayed on the lower half of the clock unless the **-nodate** option is specified. The icon window is "active" and will show the time, if supported by the window manager. ## REMINDERS The **~/.rclock** file (note: *not* **~/.urclock**) lists the messages to display and/or the programs to run at specified times and dates. At the specified time, **urclock** will pop-up a window in the center of the screen to display the message or will simply run the scheduled program. **urclock** will read the **~/.rclock** file at startup, and every 10 minutes (to look for changes) and after a message window has been dismissed (to find the next appointment). An entry in **~/.rclock** may be one of two formats (blank and comment lines will be ignored): **hh:mm \[dd\] MM/DD/YY message\[; program\]** or **\[hh:mm \[dd\] MM/DD/YY \[message\]\]; program** **hh** - hour (0-23; \* = current) **mm** - minute (0-59; \* = 0) **dd** - days-of-week (some/all/none of umtwrfs; \* = all) **MM** - month (1-12; \* = current) **DD** - day of month (1-31; \* = current) **YY** - year (0-99 or 1900-????; \* = current) **message** - message to display **program** - program to execute The days-of-the-week use the following abbreviations: **u**=Sunday, **m**=Monday, **t**=Tuesday, **w**=Wednesday, **r**=Thursday, **f**=Friday, **s**=Saturday, **\***=all. If **message** is empty and **program** has been specified, it is executed without a dialog box. If time/date are also not specified, **program** is executed on start-up. Note **message** may contain escape values (\\n: newline, \\;: semicolon). Here's a silly example file that shows some of the permissible constructs: ``` # ~/.rclock - My appointment file # startup functions ; xsetroot -solid Black & # cron functions 10:00; xsetroot -solid Grey25 & 14:00; xsetroot -solid Grey75 & # daily/weekly reminders 08:15 mtwrf * Good Morning!\\nRead News?; urxvt -e News 12:00 mtwrf * Lunch Time! 17:00 mtwrf * Go Home 23:00 mtwrf * Still Here? Go to bed 08:10 twrf * Did you do your time card yesterday? 15:00 f * Friday, do your time card early! 16:00 mtwr * Do your time card 16:30 mtwrf * Did you do your time card? *:00 us * It's the weekend, why are you here? 8:15 f */13/* Friday the 13th! Careful! 8:15 * 4/1/* fkrkrmfismsmkd...dkdfk 8:16 * 4/1/* April Fools! # birthdays/anniversaries 16:00 05/21/* Pam's Birthday (next week) 16:00 05/24/* Pam's Birthday (in a few days) # once-of appointments 08:30 03/15/94 Dentist appointment 08:30 03/15/1999 Dentist appointment 08:30 03/15/2004 Dentist appointment ``` ## ENVIRONMENT **urclock** uses the environment variable **MAIL** to determine the location of the user's mail spool file unless the **-mailfile** option is specified. ## BUGS **urclock** is not very smart about dealing with errors encountered while reading the **~/.rclock** file. Each reminder must be a single line not exceeding 255 characters. Reminder windows are sometimes not redrawn (left blank) when raised or uncovered. ## HISTORY When "unicodifying" rxvt to urxvt-unicode, other programs than rxvt were dropped, as they would be identical to their rxvt counterparts, and therefore could still be installed independently by installing rxvt. Since distributions have started dropping rxvt (and thus rclock), the rclock program has been added to the rxvt-unicode package under the name urclock. It should be functionally identical to rxvt's rclock program, including using the same configuration file name. ## AUTHORS Rob Nation \ Modifications by mj olesen \ Modifications by Marc A. Lehmann \ Modifications by Emanuele Giaquinta \ Currently maintained as part of the rxvt-unicode package.