Many thanks to all of you for your help!!!! For those who want to know: Customizing the prompt for root (with a red prompt) is: set prompt="%{\e[1;31m%}@%m:%~# %{\e[m%}" As you might notice for csh you have to replace the \[ \] with %{ %} > > > > $ export PS1="\[\e[1;31m\]@%m:%~# \[\e[m\]"