@cindex resources
@cindex X resources, @file{~/.Xdefaults} file
- Programs running under the X Window System organize their user options
-under a hierarchy of classes and resources. You can specify default
-values for these options in your X resources file, usually named
-@file{~/.Xdefaults}.
+ Programs running under the X Window System organize their user
+options under a hierarchy of classes and resources. You can specify
+default values for these options in your X resources file, usually
+named @file{~/.Xdefaults}. If changes in @file{~/.Xdefaults} do not
+take effect, it is because your X server stores its own list of
+resources; to update them, use the shell command @command{xrdb}---for
+instance, @samp{xrdb ~/.Xdefaults}.
Each line in the file specifies a value for one option or for a
collection of related options, for one program or for several programs
@appendixsec Table of X Resources for Emacs
This table lists the resource names that designate options for
-Emacs, each with the class that it belongs to:
+Emacs, not counting those for the appearance of the menu bar, each
+with the class that it belongs to:
@table @asis
@item @code{background} (class @code{Background})
Additional space (@dfn{leading}) between lines, in pixels.
@item @code{menuBar} (class @code{MenuBar})
-Give frames menu bars if @samp{on}; don't have menu bars if @samp{off}.
+Give frames menu bars if @samp{on}; don't have menu bars if
+@samp{off}. @xref{Lucid Resources}, and @ref{LessTif Resources}, for
+how to control the appearance of the menu bar if you have one.
@item @code{toolBar} (class @code{ToolBar})
Number of lines to reserve for the tool bar. A zero value suppresses