Paul Smith wrote: > > %% Isaac To <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: > > >>>>>> "Paul" == Paul Smith <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: > > Paul> If I use bash and C-q BS, or emacs -q -nw to start it within the > Paul> terminal and use C-q BS, it shows that they key typed is ^? and > Paul> not ^H as it should be. > > it> Who say it "should be" ^H? > > I do. > > I've been using UNIX for 18 years. I've used X for much of that time. > I've even used actual vt100 terminals (although it was very long ago). > I've worked on everything from Ultrix to DG-UX to Solaris to Linux and > many more in between. > > Pressing the backspace key in all these systems generates a ^H > character. The delete key generates ^?. Except Linux, now. > > it> Even the default text console will. give you ^? rather than ^H > it> when you press backspace. In Emacs, ^H is a prefix character for > it> "help" rather than binding to "delete-backward-char". If the ^H > it> binding is made to X terminal programs, Emacs users will find that > it> pressing backspace leave them a prompt asking for a key to specify > it> what help he want, rather than deleting one character on the left > it> of the cursor. > > I know all about this issue; I've used Emacs for 14+ years. But, I want > to know how to make backspace send ^H. > > it> If any environment by default sends ^H rather than DEL (i.e., ^?) > it> when you press BackSpace, then you have to file bug against that > it> environment. The only one that this won't work is the one that > it> you have no capability to file a bug against (i.e., > it> MS-Windows...). > > So, should I submit bugs against Solaris, HP-UX, AIX, etc. etc. so that > when I telnet to those systems from my Linux box my keybindings work > properly, more/less work properly, vi works properly, etc. (luckily I > use bash as my shell which has the very sensible behavior of treating > backspace and DEL identically)? > > I think not. Linux is in the minority here and my preference is to > change Linux to work the "traditional" way rather than customize all the > others. > > Paul> Looking at xmodmap -pke shows that keycode 22 emits backspace, and > Paul> xev shows that the BS key is sending the backspace keysym. > > it> The BackSpace keysym is a keysym, not a keycode. > > Yes, that's why I said "keycode 22" and "the backspace keysym". > > it> If you look down, you'll find that the keycode is said to be '"'. > it> Of course, this is not really the case. It actually want to say > it> the keycode is ^?, and enclose it between double quotes. But the > it> ^? actually deletes the leading double quote. > > I don't understand this at all... the keycode for backspace is 22, not > ^?, and xmodmap -pke doesn't generate output in quotes. > > Paul> Where should I look for the cause of this? I need BS to give ^H, > Paul> like it always used to do. > > it> It "always" used to send DEL, unless your configuration is wrong. > it> The "always" means something that is back as far as around the > it> "bo" (i.e., Debian 1.3) days. Now it is probably time to fix your > it> stty so that it accepts ^? rather than ^H. > > I don't want to do that. I want to change my settings back to what they > were up until a month or two ago. I use many different system types > and, as I said above, it's far simpler for me to change Linux back to > work like all the others than it is to try to change all those other > systems and applications to work like Linux. > > it> There is an exception. Until recently, the gnome-terminal > it> incorrectly sends ^H rather than DEL on receiving BackSpace > > I've never used gnome-terminal. I use rxvt almost exclusively. Maybe a > few xterms by accident. > > So, something changed in the rxvt/xterm builds? I checked all the > app-defaults and couldn't find anything. Do I have to recompile them > locally?
There's a detailed explanation of backspace/delete key problems and fixes in /usr/doc/xfree86-common/FAQ.gz -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
