Put something like this into your .Xresources: For URxvt: ! Ctrl-Shift-A will show alternate screen URxvt.keysym.C-S-A: command:\033[?47h ! Ctrl-Shift-Z will

Put something like this into your .Xresources: For URxvt: ! Ctrl-Shift-A will show alternate screen URxvt.keysym.C-S-A: command:\033[?47h ! Ctrl-Shift-Z will return to regular screen URxvt.keysym.C-S-Z: command:\033[?47l For XTerm: ! Ctrl-Shift-Z will toggle alternate screen VT100translations: #override \n\ Ctrl Shift <KeyPress> z: set-altscreen(toggle)