info-mac@uw-beaver (info-mac) (08/23/84)
From: Andrew W. Donoho <awd@ut-ngp.ARPA> In reference to McClure's problems with the new version of macterminal and unix machines. I have not had any problems using the macterminal .5 Beta Release with a Unix Host (4.2 bsd). I think that the problem that has been seen with it is due to the unix host and not macterminal. I had problems with it until I changed my Termcap entry from 'vt100' to 'ovt100', which I think stands for 'old vt100'. It now allows me to play a good game of rogue. I have also used it with DEC's EDT screen editor on a VAX running VMS without any problems. Andrew W. Donoho awd@ut-ngp
info-mac@uw-beaver (info-mac) (08/25/84)
From: Dan Tappan <Tappan@BBNG.ARPA> There are definite bugs in the Macterminal 0.5X vt100 handling, enough that it is very difficult to use with Tops20 EMACS - it tends to leave old garbage on the screen while moving around in the file. After some playing around I've determined that the problem is that Clear-to-end-of-screen (<esc>[J) and Clear-to-end-of-line (<esc>[K) do not work if there is data in the mac's input buffer. To test it try writing a program the repeatedly outputs something like <esc>[H<esc>[J<fill the screen with text> A good part of the time (depending on the system load) it will leave the screen blank except for the top line (which will be the @i(2nd) line of the text that was on the screen). I suspect that your changing the termcap entry to 'ovt100' invoked more padding and got around the bug. While I'm beating on Macterminal there are also a few features I don't like. o to get a <delete> you have to type <control>BS (or some other keys). This is inconvenient on a Tops20 when you have to use delete alot (and backspace rarely). There should be some way to switch the meanings of BS and <control>BS. o You can't save the state of 'Record lines off top' o There are no arrow keys. The 'option-mouse' almost works, except when you're in something like the TV editor which keeps the terminal cursor at the bottom of the screen at all times. o The 'option-mouse' function makes no attempt to optimize the cursor keys, in fact it usually takes the worst possible path, to move down one line in the same column it moves back to column 0, THEN goes down, and forward to the right column. (This is the version of Macterminal dated July 12,1984. Admittedly it's a Beta test, hopefully these will be fixed by the real release.) Dan -------