CdSexTex-1 (0 less than or equal to x less than or equal to 1) ternary thin films have been deposited on glass substrates at room temperature by electron beam evaporation, using the source materials prepared in our laboratory by direct reaction of high purity elemental Cd(99.9999%), Se(99.999%) and Te(99.999%). These alloy films independent of composition, are polycrystalline, single phase (zinc blende structure) with strong preferential orientation of the crystallites (30-50 nm size) along (111) direction. Linear variation of lattice constant with composition (x) is observed. Absorption measurements show quadratic variation of bandgap with composition (x). Refractive indices, determined from transmission spectra, are in the range 2.43-2.52 depending upon the composition of the films.