vt220keys -- define SHIFTED function keys on VT220 terminal
vt220keys [-cil] [keyname keystring ...]
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 printed.
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
(\n).
-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.
vt220keys -ci
vt220keys F6 'nroff -ms '
vt220keys -i F20 'cc -O -c '
vt220keys -l HELP man
Pressing the function keys without using the shift key, generates 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 include 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.
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 can't 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 escape 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.
$HOME/.vt220rc initialization file
VT220 Programmer Reference Manual.
VT220 Programmer Pocket Guide.
FreeBSD 5.2.1 January 16, 2001 FreeBSD 5.2.1 [ Back ] | 