vt220keys(1)
NAME
vt220keys - define SHIFTED function keys on VT220 terminal
SYNOPSIS
vt220keys [-cil] [keyname keystring ...]
DESCRIPTION
- The vt220keys utility sets up a ``vt220 terminal'' in vt200
- mode to allow
user definition of the SHIFTED function keys. Each keyname - specified on
the command line will be loaded with the corresponding - keystring. A
keyname is one of the following words: F6 F7 F8 F9 F10 F11
ESC F12 BS F13
- LF F14 HELP DO F17 F18 F19 F20. Keystrings must be quoted
- if spaces,
tabs, or shell metacharacters are included. - The vt220keys utility expects to receive some combination of
- option flags
and/or argument pair(s), otherwise a usage message is print - ed.
- The options are:
- -c Clears all SHIFTED function key definitions before
- setting them
- to user defined strings.
- -i Read the initialization file $HOME/.vt220rc for
- SHIFTED function
- key definitions. This is done before any argument
- pair specified
on the command line is processed. Each line in the - file must
consist of two fields (separated by spaces or tabs) - where the
first field is the keyname and the second field is - the keystring.
The second field extends to the end of the line, - thus a keystring
may include spaces or tabs. A newline (return) may - be specified
within the string by using the C Language notation - for newline
(0. - -l Locks the function keys from further definition.
- Locking occurs
- after processing the initialization file (if the -i
- option is
specified) and any argument pairs. The only way to - unlock is by
turning the power off.
FILES
$HOME/.vt220rc initialization file
EXAMPLES
vt220keys -ci
vt220keys F6 'nroff -ms '
vt220keys -i F20 'cc -O -c '
vt220keys -l HELP man
OTHER FEATURES
- Pressing the function keys without using the shift key, gen
- erates a
string of characters. With csh(1) this string can be - aliased to some
command. For example:
alias ^[[17~ "ls -CR | more"- where `^[[17~' is what is generated by pressing the F6 key.
- Therefore F6
can perform two commands, depending if pressed with/without - the SHIFT
key. - The vt220keys utility can be called from your .login or
- .profile file.
Typically an user will create an initialization file and in - clude a line
like
vt220keys -ci- OR
- vt220keys -cil
- in the above mentioned files. This way the SHIFTED function
- keys will be
set to your favorite commands when logging in.
CAVEATS
- If the SHIFTED function keys are unlocked, redefinition of a
- SHIFTED
function key will rewrite the old string. - There are 256 bytes available for the SHIFTED function keys.
- Space is
supplied on a first-come/first-serve basis. After the 256 - bytes are
used, you cannot define any more keys unless space is - cleared. This can
be done by redefining a key to contain a string of fewer - bytes.
- All key definitions are stored in volatile RAM, and are lost
- when terminal power is lost.
- The ESC key (unshifted) no longer generates the proper es
- cape character.
This is of particular importance since many editors require - use of the
ESC key. Here are some available alternatives: - +o The escape character can be generated by typing `^['
- (control-[).
- +o Use vt220keys as follows (note `^[' is control-[)
vt220keys ESC '^['- This will require you to press the SHIFT key and ESC to
- generate the
escape sequence. - +o Some editors, allow other character(s) to be substituted
- for the
- escape character. For example with emacs(1) include
- this line in
your .emacs_pro:
(bind-to-key "ESC-prefix" " 33[23~") - Thus when the ESC key is pressed, emacs will allow the
- characters
generated (^[[23~) to perform the same function as the - escape character.
SEE ALSO
VT220 Programmer Reference Manual.
- VT220 Programmer Pocket Guide.
- BSD January 16, 2001