This is one of several subroutines curses provides for manipulating soft function-key labels. These labels appear at the bottom of the screen and give applications, such as editors, a more user-friendly look. Some terminals support soft labels, others do not. For terminals that do not support soft labels.
Curses emulates soft labels by using the bottom line of the stdscr.
Parameter Labfmt Simulates soft labels. To arrange three labels on the right, two in the center, and three on the right of the screen, specify a 0 for this parameter. To arrange four labels on the left and four on the right of the screen, specify a 1 for this parameter. The initscr subroutine, newterm subroutine. Writing and Debugging Programs .