It happends from time to time, that I use more (the text file viewer)
on binary files.

Often the result is, that my terminal changes character set, so the
terminal is completely unreadable. I'm using XTERM.

Any ideas of how I can return to the default character set? Other than
shutting down, off course...

/Kenneth

On Thu, 31 Jan 2008 01:09:22 -0800 (PST), Kenneth Brun Nielsen wrote:
> It happends from time to time, that I use more (the text file viewer)
> on binary files.
>
> Often the result is, that my terminal changes character set, so the
> terminal is completely unreadable. I'm using XTERM.
>
> Any ideas of how I can return to the default character set? Other than
> shutting down, off course...
[...]

Generally, the reset command when available does it.

You can also try:

tput rmacs

Or

printf '\017'

or:

printf '\033(B'

You could also consider using less (without the -r option)
instead of more.

--
Stephane

Kenneth Brun Nielsen <kenneth.brun.nielsen [at] googlemail.com> writes:

> Any ideas of how I can return to the default character set? Other than
> shutting down, off course...

Besides what Stephane says, you can type
reset
clear

you might need a Control-J instead of a <return>
if your terminal is really really messed up.