rfarris@serene.CTS.COM (Rick Farris) (09/06/88)
Can anyone tell me how I can use my alt-key on my pc instead of <esc>
prefixes? I would really like to be able to substitute say <alt><d>
for delete-word for <esc>-<d>.
My preference is not so much the choice of keys, as it is that <alt><d>
is one keystroke, whereas <esc>-<d> is two. In order to delete several
words with the <alt><d> combination, I can hold down the <alt> key and
tap the <d> key until I've deleted the number of words I want. To
perform the same task with the <esc>-<d> combination, I must alternate
between the <esc> (actually <ctrl><[>) key and the <d> key.
Predictably, I find the <alt> key to be preferable for all of the
<esc>-prefix commands.
I suppose that the <esc>-<v> sequence would have been a better
example -- if I could just use <alt><v> to back up pages, it would
be much like <ctrl><v> for moving forward pages...
In particular, I'm using Unipress Emacs under Xenix 286 v2.2, but I
expect my question is somewhat generic.
_______________________________
Rick Farris | rfarris@serene.UUCP | Voice (619) 259-6793
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If carpenters built buildings the way most programmers write programs,
the first woodpecker that came along would destroy civilization. . .karl@haddock.ima.isc.com (Karl Heuer) (09/07/88)
In article <156@serene.CTS.COM> rfarris@serene.CTS.COM (Rick Farris) writes: >Can anyone tell me how I can use my alt-key on my pc instead of <esc> >prefixes? I would really like to be able to substitute say <alt><d> >for delete-word for <esc>-<d>. Emacs binds M-d (ESC d) and C-M-d (ESC Ctrl-d) to different functions. Does your keyboard distinguish between Alt-d and Ctrl-Alt-d? Mine doesn't. Karl W. Z. Heuer (ima!haddock!karl or karl@haddock.isc.com), The Walking Lint
brown@galaxy.ee.rochester.edu (Eric Brown) (09/08/88)
In article <7049@haddock.ima.isc.com> karl@haddock.ima.isc.com (Karl Heuer) writes: >In article <156@serene.CTS.COM> rfarris@serene.CTS.COM (Rick Farris) writes: >>Can anyone tell me how I can use my alt-key on my pc instead of <esc> >>prefixes? I would really like to be able to substitute say <alt><d> >>for delete-word for <esc>-<d>. > >Emacs binds M-d (ESC d) and C-M-d (ESC Ctrl-d) to different functions. Does >your keyboard distinguish between Alt-d and Ctrl-Alt-d? Mine doesn't. What Karl says is true. I think the problem can be overcome though through a very simple TSR. As I understand it (correct me if I'm wrong), the meta-key is supposed to set the msb-bit when a key is sent to emacs. If pc-emacs will take the same thing, a TSR can do the trick. After I get emacs for my pc, I will probably try and write it - look for it here in about two months. -Eric Brown. ee.rochester.edu
neitzel@infbs.uucp (Martin Neitzel) (09/08/88)
In article <156@serene.CTS.COM> rfarris@serene.CTS.COM (Rick Farris) writes:
rf>
rf> Can anyone tell me how I can use my alt-key on my pc instead of
rf> <esc> prefixes? [...] Predictably, I find the <alt> key to be
rf> preferable for all of the <esc>-prefix commands. [...]
rf>
rf> [...] I expect my question is somewhat generic.
100% agreed. For the IBM-PC the obvious way to Do It Right is to have a
keyboard driver with _full_ support for the ALT compinations. This
would be useful both when you are running a (small) emacs locally as
when you use your pc as terminal.
To make a long story short: I have just begun to work on such a driver
and will make the results available -- if I get something running...
Please do not flood my mail box now. Or, if you have such a thing
already: post it!
Martin
Martin Neitzel, Techn. Univ. Braunschweig, W.Germany
BITNET/EARN: neitzel@dbsinf6.bitnet (mail via bitnet preferred)
UUCP: neitzel@infbs.uucp (unido!infbs!neitzel)
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