ZATHURARC(5)

NAME
zathurarc - zathura configuration file

SYNOPSIS

/etc/zathurarc, $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/zathura/zathurarc

DESCRIPTION

The zathurarc file is a simple plain text file that can be populated with various commands to change the behaviour and the look of zathura which we are going to describe in the following subsections. Each line (besides empty lines and comments (which start with a prepended #) is evaluated on its own, so it is not possible to write multiple commands in one single line.

COMMANDS

  set - Changing options

In addition to the built-in :set command zathura offers more options to be changed and makes those changes permanent. To overwrite an option you just have to add a line structured like the following

            set <option> <new value>

The option field has to be replaced with the name of the option that should be changed and the new value field has to be replaced with the new value the option should get. The type of the value can be one of the following:

    •   INT - An integer number

    •   FLOAT - A floating point number

    •   STRING - A character string

    •   BOOL - A boolean value ("true" for true, "false" for false)

In addition we advice you to check the options to get a more detailed view of the options that can be changed and which values they should be set to.

The following example should give some deeper insight of how the set command can be used

            set option1 5
            set option2 2.0
            set option3 hello
            set option4 hello\ world
            set option5 "hello world"

Especially for options with strings as values, note that escaping of special characters and white spaces is necessary. In the above example, option4 and option5 are both set to hello world, but set option6 hello world would set option6 only to hello.

For colors, zathura supports HTML color codes and CSS3-style rgb(r,g,b) and rgba(r,g,b,a) values. If you want to use color codes for some options, make sure to quote them accordingly or to escape the hash symbol.

            set default-fg "#CCBBCC"
            set default-fg \#CCBBCC

For rgba, note that it parses the color components as integers between 0 and 255 and the alpha component as float between 0 and 1.

  include - Including another config file

This commands allows one to include other configuration files. If a relative path is given, the path will be resolved relative to the configuration file that is currently processed.

            include another-config

  map - Mapping a shortcut

It is possible to map or remap new key bindings to shortcut functions which allows a high level of customization. The :map command can also be used in the zathurarc file to make those changes permanent:

            map [mode] <binding> <shortcut function> <argument>

    Mode
        The map command expects several arguments where only the binding as well as the shortcut-function argument is required. Since zathura uses several modes it is possible to map bindings only for a specific mode by passing the mode argument which can take one of the following values:

        •   normal (default)

        •   fullscreen

        •   presentation

        •   index

    The brackets around the value are mandatory.

    Single key binding
        The (possible) second argument defines the used key binding that should be mapped to the shortcut function and is structured like the following. On the one hand it is possible to just assign single letters, numbers or signs to it:

                map a shortcut_function optional_argument
                map b shortcut_function optional_argument
                map c shortcut_function optional_argument
                map 1 shortcut_function optional_argument
                map 2 shortcut_function optional_argument
                map 3 shortcut_function optional_argument
                map ! shortcut_function optional_argument
                map ? shortcut_function optional_argument

    Using modifiers
        It is also possible to use modifiers like the Control or Alt button on the keyboard. It is possible to use the following modifiers:

        •   A - Alt

        •   C - Control

        •   S - Shift

    If any of the modifiers should be used for a binding, it is required to define the binding with the following structure:

                map <A-a> shortcut_function
                map <C-a> shortcut_function

    Special keys
        zathura allows it also to assign keys like the space bar or the tab button which also have to be written in between angle brackets. The following special keys are currently available:

                Identifier    Description

                BackSpace     Back space
                CapsLock      Caps lock
                NumLock       Num Lock
                ScrollLock    Scroll Lock
                Esc           Escape
                Down          Arrow down
                Up            Arrow up
                Left          Arrow left
                Right         Arrow right
                F1            F1
                F2            F2
                F3            F3
                F4            F4
                F5            F5
                F6            F6
                F7            F7
                F8            F8
                F9            F9
                F10           F10
                F11           F11
                F12           F12
                PageDown      Page Down
                PageUp        Page Up
                Return        Return
                Space         Space
                Super         Windows key
                Tab           Tab
                Print         Print key
                KPUp          Numpad Up (where the number 8 is)
                KPDown        Numpad Down (where the number 2 is)
                KPLeft        Numpad Left (where the number 4 is)
                KPRight       Numpad Right (where the number 6 is)
                KPBegin       Numpad Center button (where the number 5 is)
                KPPrior       Numpad PageUp (where the number 9 is)
                KPPageUp      Numpad PageUp (where the number 9 is)
                KPNext        Numpad PageDown (where the number 3 is)
                KPPageDown    Numpad PageDown (where the number 3 is)
                KPHome        Numpad Home (where the number 7 is)
                KPEnd         Numpad End (where the number 1 is)
                KPInsert      Numpad Insert (where the number 0 is)
                KPDelete      Numpad Delete (where the numpad period is)
                KPMultiply    Numpad Asterisk
                KPAdd         Numpad Plus sign
                KPSubtract    Numpad Minus sign
                KPDivide      Numpad Slash sign

    Of course it is possible to combine those special keys with a modifier. The usage of those keys should be explained by the following examples:

                map <Space> shortcut_function
                map <C-Space> shortcut_function

    Mouse buttons
        It is also possible to map mouse buttons to shortcuts by using the following special keys:

                Identifier Description

                Button1    Mouse button 1 (left)
                Button2    Mouse button 2 (middle)
                Button3    Mouse button 3 (right)
                Button4    Mouse button 4
                Button5    Mouse button 5

They can also be combined with modifiers:

            map <Button1> shortcut_function
            map <C-Button1> shortcut_function

    Buffer commands
        If a mapping does not match one of the previous definition but is still a valid mapping it will be mapped as a buffer command:

                map abc quit
                map test quit

    Shortcut functions
        The following shortcut functions can be mapped:

        •   abort

            Switch back to normal mode.

        •   adjust_window

            Adjust page width. Possible arguments are best-fit and width.

        •   change_mode

            Change current mode. Pass the desired mode as argument.

        •   copy_filepath

            Copy the full path of the currently opened document to the clipboard

        •   copy_link

            Copy a link target to the clipboard.

        •   cycle_first_column

            In multiple page layout, cycle the column in which the first page is displayed.

        •   display_link:

            Display link target.

        •   exec:

            Execute an external command. $FILE expands to the current document path, $PAGE to the current page number, and $DBUS to the bus name of the D-Bus interface.

        •   file_chooser:

            Open a File Chooser Dialog. Uses the native file chooser on Windows and MacOS, desktop portals when available and otherwise GtkFileChooser.

        •   focus_inputbar

            Focus inputbar.

        •   follow

            Follow a link.

        •   goto

            Go to a certain page.

        •   jumplist

            Move forwards/backwards in the jumplist. Pass forward as argument to move to the next entry and backward to move to the previous one.

        •   navigate

            Navigate to the next/previous page.

        •   navigate_index

            Navigate through the index.

        •   print

            Show the print dialog.

        •   page_mode

            Set the page sizing mode. Default is equal_none, which doesn't resize individual pages. equal_width and equal_height resizes each page to have the same width and height respectively.

        •   quit

            Quit zathura.

        •   recolor

            Recolor pages.

        •   reload

            Reload the document.

        •   rotate

            Rotate the page. Pass rotate-ccw as argument for counterclockwise rotation and rotate-cw for clockwise rotation.

        •   scroll

            Scroll.

        •   search

            Search next/previous item. Pass forward as argument to search for the next hit and backward to search for the previous hit.

        •   set

            Set an option.

        •   snap_to_page

            Snaps to the current page. Equivalent to goto <current_page>

        •   toggle_fullscreen

            Toggle fullscreen.

        •   toggle_index

            Show or hide index.

        •   toggle_inputbar

            Show or hide inputbar.

        •   toggle_page_mode

            Toggle between one and multiple pages per row.

        •   toggle_single_page_mode

            Toggle between displaying a page grid or a single page.

        •   toggle_statusbar

            Show or hide statusbar.

        •   zoom

            Zoom in or out.

        •   zoom_page

            Zoom in or out of the current page.

        •   mark_add

            Set a quickmark.

        •   mark_evaluate

            Go to a quickmark.

        •   feedkeys

            Simulate key presses. Note that all keys will be interpreted as if pressing a key on the keyboard. To input uppercase letters, follow the same convention as for key bindings, i.e. for X, use <S-X>.

    Pass arguments
        Some shortcut function require or have optional arguments which influence the behaviour of them. Those can be passed as the last argument:

                map <C-i> zoom in
                map <C-o> zoom out

    Possible arguments are:

        •   best-fit

        •   bottom

        •   backward

        •   collapse

        •   collapse-recursive

        •   collapse-all

        •   default

        •   down

        •   expand

        •   expand-recursive

        •   expand-all

        •   forward

        •   full-down

        •   full-up

        •   half-down

        •   half-up

        •   smooth-down

        •   smooth-up

        •   in

        •   left

        •   next

        •   out

        •   page-bottom

        •   page-top

        •   previous

        •   right

        •   rotate-ccw

        •   rotate-cw

        •   select

        •   specific

        •   toggle

        •   top

        •   up

        •   width

        •   equal_none

        •   equal_width

        •   equal_height

  unmap - Removing a shortcut

In addition to mapping or remaping custom key bindings it is possible to remove existing ones by using the :unmap command. The command is used in the following way (the explanation of the parameters is described in the map section of this document

            unmap [mode] <binding>

OPTIONS

This section describes settings concerning the behaviour of zathura. The settings described here can be changed with set.

    n-completion-items
        Defines the maximum number of displayed completion entries.

        •   Value type: Integer

        •   Default value: 15

    completion-bg
        Defines the background color that is used for command line completion entries

        •   Value type: String

        •   Default value: #232323

    completion-fg
        Defines the foreground color that is used for command line completion entries

        •   Value type: String

        •   Default value: #DDDDDD

    completion-group-bg
        Defines the background color that is used for command line completion group elements

        •   Value type: String

        •   Default value: #000000

    completion-group-fg
        Defines the foreground color that is used for command line completion group elements

        •   Value type: String

        •   Default value: #DEDEDE

    completion-highlight-bg
        Defines the background color that is used for the current command line completion element

        •   Value type: String

        •   Default value: #9FBC00

    completion-highlight-fg
        Defines the foreground color that is used for the current command line completion element

        •   Value type: String

        •   Default value: #232323

    default-bg
        Defines the default background color

        •   Value type: String

        •   Default value: #000000

    default-fg
        Defines the default foreground color

        •   Value type: String

        •   Default value: #DDDDDD

    exec-command
        Defines a command the should be prepended to any command run with exec.

        •   Value type: String

        •   Default value:

    font
        Defines the font that will be used

        •   Value type: String

        •   Default value: monospace normal 9

    guioptions
        Shows or hides GUI elements. If it contains 'c', the command line is displayed. If it contains 's', the statusbar is displayed. If it contains 'h', the horizontal scrollbar is displayed. If it contains 'v', the vertical scrollbar is displayed.

        •   Value type: String

        •   Default value: s

    inputbar-bg
        Defines the background color for the inputbar

        •   Value type: String

        •   Default value: #131313

    inputbar-fg
        Defines the foreground color for the inputbar

        •   Value type: String

        •   Default value: #9FBC00

    notification-bg
        Defines the background color for a notification

        •   Value type: String

        •   Default value: #FFFFFF

    notification-fg
        Defines the foreground color for a notification

        •   Value type: String

        •   Default value: #000000

    notification-error-bg
        Defines the background color for an error notification

        •   Value type: String

        •   Default value: #FF1212

    notification-error-fg
        Defines the foreground color for an error notification

        •   Value type: String

        •   Default value: #FFFFFF

    notification-warning-bg
        Defines the background color for a warning notification

        •   Value type: String

        •   Default value: #FFF712

    notification-warning-fg
        Defines the foreground color for a warning notification

        •   Value type: String

        •   Default value: #FFFFFF

    statusbar-bg
        Defines the background color of the statusbar

        •   Value type: String

        •   Default value: #000000

    statusbar-fg
        Defines the foreground color of the statusbar

        •   Value type: String

        •   Default value: #FFFFFF

    statusbar-h-padding
        Defines the horizontal padding of the statusbar and notificationbar

        •   Value type: Integer

        •   Default value: 8

    statusbar-v-padding
        Defines the vertical padding of the statusbar and notificationbar

        •   Value type: Integer

        •   Default value: 2

    window-height
        Defines the window height on startup

        •   Value type: Integer

        •   Default value: 600

    window-width
        Defines the window width on startup

        •   Value type: Integer

        •   Default value: 800

    abort-clear-search
        Defines if the search results should be cleared on abort.

        •   Value type: Boolean

        •   Default value: true

    adjust-open
        Defines which auto adjustment mode should be used if a document is loaded. Possible options are "best-fit" and "width".

        •   Value type: String

        •   Default value: best-fit

    page-mode
        Defines the default page sizing mode when opening a document. Possible options are "none", "equal_width", and "equal_height". When set to "equal_width", all pages are scaled to match the width of the current page. When set to "equal_height", all pages are scaled to match the height of the current page.

        •   Value type: String

        •   Default value: none

    advance-pages-per-row
        Defines if the number of pages per row should be honored when advancing a page.

        •   Value type: Boolean

        •   Default value: false

    continuous-hist-save
        Tells zathura whether to save document history at each page change or only when closing a document.

        •   Value type: Boolean

        •   Default value: false

    database
        Defines the database backend to use for bookmarks and input history. Possible values are "sqlite" and "null". If "null" is used, bookmarks and input history will not be stored.

        •   Value type: String

        •   Default value: sqlite

    dbus-raise-window
        Defines whether zathura's window should be raised when receiving certain commands via D-Bus.

        •   Value type: Boolean

        •   Default value: true

    dbus-service
        En/Disables the D-Bus service. If the services is disabled, SyncTeX forward synchronization is not available.

        •   Value type: Boolean

        •   Default value: true

    double-click-follow
        Defines whether double or single click on a link should trigger follow.

        •   Value type: Boolean

        •   Default value: true

    filemonitor
        Defines the file monitor backend used to check for changes in files. Possible values are "glib", "signal" (if signal handling is supported), and "noop". The "noop" file monitor does not trigger reloads.

        •   Value type: String

        •   Default value: glib

    first-page-column
        Defines the column in which the first page will be displayed. This setting is stored separately for every value of pages-per-row according to the following pattern <1 page per row>:[<2 pages per row>[: ...]]. The last value in the list will be used for all other number of pages per row if not set explicitly.

        Per default, the first column is set to 2 for double-page layout, i.e. the value is set to 1:2. A value of 1:1:3 would put the first page in dual-page layout in the first column, and for layouts with more columns the first page would be put in the 3rd column.

        •   Value type: String

        •   Default value: 1:2

    highlight-active-color
        Defines the color that is used to show the current selected highlighted element (e.g: current search result)

        •   Value type: String

        •   Default value: rgba(0,188,0,0.5)

    highlight-color
        Defines the color that is used for highlighting parts of the document (e.g.: show search results)

        •   Value type: String

        •   Default value: rgba(159,251,0,0.5)

    highlight-fg
        Defines the color that is used for text when highlighting parts of the document (e.g.: number for links).

        •   Value type: String

        •   Default value: rgba(0,0,0,0.5)

    highlighter-modifier
        Defines the modifier that needs to be pressed together with the left mouse button to draw the highlighter. Possible values are "shift", "ctrl" and "alt".

        •   Value type: String

        •   Default value: shift

    incremental-search
        En/Disables incremental search (search while typing).

        •   Value type: Boolean

        •   Default value: true

    index-active-bg
        Define the background color of the selected element in index mode.

        •   Value type: String

        •   Default value: #9FBC00

    index-active-fg
        Defines the foreground color of the selected element in index mode.

        •   Value type: String

        •   Default value: #232323

    index-bg
        Define the background color of the index mode.

        •   Value type: String

        •   Default value: #232323

    index-fg
        Defines the foreground color of the index mode.

        •   Value type: String

        •   Default value: #DDDDDD

    jumplist-size
        Maximum number of positions to remember in the jumplist.

        •   Value type: Integer

        •   Default value: 2000

    link-hadjust
        En/Disables aligning to the left internal link targets, for example from the index.

        •   Value type: Boolean

        •   Default value: true

    link-zoom
        En/Disables the ability of changing zoom when following links.

        •   Value type: Boolean

        •   Default value: true

    nohlsearch
        Dis/Enables the highlighting of search results.

        •   Value type: Boolean

        •   Default value: false

    open-first-page
        Always open documents on the first page. If disabled, zathura will jump to the last remembered position.

        •   Value type: Boolean

        •   Default value: false

    page-cache-size
        Defines the maximum number of pages that could be kept in the page cache. When the cache is full and a new page that isn't cached becomes visible, the least recently viewed page in the cache will be evicted to make room for the new one. Large values for this variable are NOT recommended, because this will lead to consuming a significant portion of the system memory.

        •   Value type: Integer

        •   Default value: 15

    page-v-padding
        Vertical page padding defines the vertical gap in pixels between each rendered page.

        •   Value type: Integer

        •   Default value: 1

    page-h-padding
        Horizontal page padding defines the horizontal gap in pixels between each rendered page.

        •   Value type: Integer

        •   Default value: 1

    page-right-to-left
        Defines whether pages in multi-column view should start from the right side.

        •   Value type: Boolean

        •   Default value: false

    page-thumbnail-size
        Defines the maximum size in pixels of the thumbnail that could be kept in the thumbnail cache per page. The thumbnail is scaled for a quick preview during zooming before the page is rendered. When the page is rendered, the result is saved as the thumbnail only if the size is no more than this value. A larger value increases quality but introduces longer delay in zooming and uses more system memory.

        •   Value type: Integer

        •   Default value: 4194304 (4M)

    pages-per-row
        Defines the number of pages that are rendered next to each other in a row.

        •   Value type: Integer

        •   Default value: 1

    recolor
        En/Disables recoloring

        •   Value type: Boolean

        •   Default value: false

    recolor-adjust-lightness
        En/Disables adjusting lightness when recoloring.

        •   Value type: Boolean

        •   Default value: false

    recolor-darkcolor
        Defines the color value that is used to represent dark colors in recoloring mode

        •   Value type: String

        •   Default value: #FFFFFF

    recolor-keephue
        En/Disables keeping original hue when recoloring

        •   Value type: Boolean

        •   Default value: false

    recolor-lightcolor
        Defines the color value that is used to represent light colors in recoloring mode

        •   Value type: String

        •   Default value: #000000

    recolor-reverse-video
        Defines if original image colors should be kept while recoloring.

        •   Value type: Boolean

        •   Default value: false

    render-loading
        Defines if the "Loading..." text should be displayed if a page is rendered.

        •   Value type: Boolean

        •   Default value: true

    render-loading-bg
        Defines the background color that is used for the "Loading..." text.

        •   Value type: String

        •   Default value: #FFFFFF

    render-loading-fg
        Defines the foreground color that is used for the "Loading..." text.

        •   Value type: String

        •   Default value: #000000

    scroll-full-overlap
        Defines the proportion of the current viewing area that should be visible after scrolling a full page.

        •   Value type: Float

        •   Default value: 0

    scroll-hstep
        Defines the horizontal step size of scrolling by calling the scroll command once

        •   Value type: Float

        •   Default value: -1

    scroll-step
        Defines the step size of scrolling by calling the scroll command once

        •   Value type: Float

        •   Default value: 40

    scroll-page-aware
        Defines if scrolling by half or full pages stops at page boundaries.

        •   Value type: Boolean

        •   Default value: false

    scroll-wrap
        Defines if the last/first page should be wrapped

        •   Value type: Boolean

        •   Default value: false

    search-hadjust
        En/Disables horizontally centered search results.

        •   Value type: Boolean

        •   Default value: true

    selection-clipboard
        Defines the X clipboard into which mouse-selected data will be written. When it is "clipboard", selected data will be written to the CLIPBOARD clipboard, and can be pasted using the Ctrl+v key combination. When it is "primary", selected data will be written to the PRIMARY clipboard, and can be pasted using the middle mouse button, or the Shift-Insert key combination. The value "false" can be used to disable copying to the clipboard.

        •   Value type: String

        •   Default value: primary

    selection-notification
        Defines if a notification should be displayed after selecting text.

        •   Value type: Boolean

        •   Default value: true

    signature-error-color
        Defines the background color when displaying additional information for signatures with errors.

        •   Value type: String

        •   Default value: rgba(92%,11%,14%,0.9)

    signature-success-color
        Defines the background color when displaying additional information for valid signatures.

        •   Value type: String

        •   Default value: rgba(18%,80%,33%,0.9)

    signature-warning-color
        Defines the background color when displaying additional information for signatures with warnings.

        •   Value type: String

        •   Default value: rgba(100%,84%,0%,0.9)

    single-page-mode
        Defines if documents should be opened in single-page view mode.

        •   Value type: Boolean

        •   Default value: false

    show-directories
        Defines if the directories should be displayed in completion.

        •   Value type: Boolean

        •   Default value: true

    show-hidden
        Defines if hidden files and directories should be displayed in completion.

        •   Value type: Boolean

        •   Default value: false

    show-recent
        Defines the number of recent files that should be displayed in completion. If the value is negative, no upper bounds are applied. If the value is 0, no recent files are shown.

        •   Value type: Integer

        •   Default value: 10

    show-signature-information
        Defines whether additional information on signatures embedded in documents should be displayed.

        •   value type: Boolean

        •   Default value false

    statusbar-basename
        Use basename of the file in the statusbar.

        •   Value type: Boolean

        •   Default value: false

    statusbar-home-tilde
        Display a short version of the file path, which replaces $HOME with ~, in the statusbar.

        •   Value type: Boolean

        •   Default value: false

    statusbar-page-percent
        Display (current page / total pages) as a percent in the statusbar.

        •   Value type: Boolean

        •   Default value: false

    synctex
        En/Disables SyncTeX backward synchronization support.

        •   Value type: Boolean

        •   Default value: true

    synctex-edit-modifier
        Defines the modifier that needs to be pressed together with the left mouse button to trigger the SyncTeX backward synchronization. Possible values are "shift", "ctrl" and "alt".

        •   Value type: String

        •   Default value: ctrl

    synctex-editor-command
        Defines the command executed for SyncTeX backward synchronization.

        •   Value type: String

        •   Default value:

    vertical-center
        Center the screen at the vertical midpoint of the page by default.

        •   Value type: Boolean

        •   Default value: false

    window-title-basename
        Use basename of the file in the window title.

        •   Value type: Boolean

        •   Default value: false

    window-title-home-tilde
        Display a short version of the file path, which replaces $HOME with ~, in the window title.

        •   Value type: Boolean

        •   Default value: false

    window-title-page
        Display the page number in the window title.

        •   Value type: Boolean

        •   Default value: false

    zoom-center
        En/Disables horizontally centered zooming.

        •   Value type: Boolean

        •   Default value: false

    zoom-max
        Defines the maximum percentage that the zoom level can be.

        •   Value type: Integer

        •   Default value: 1000

    zoom-min
        Defines the minimum percentage that the zoom level can be.

        •   Value type: Integer

        •   Default value: 10

    zoom-step
        Defines the amount of percent that is zoomed in or out on each command.

        •   Value type: Integer

        •   Default value: 10

SEE ALSO

zathura(1)

Author
pwmt.org

Copyright
2009-2026, pwmt.org