andy@Shasta.STANFORD.EDU (Andy Freeman) (12/16/86)
We use octal 36 (<control>^ on many terminals). It is also used by the arpanet telnet software I'm familiar with. Since it is only one character long, we don't have to worry about whether programs use it or not. The network software, both terminal servers and arpa telnet, passes it through if it is followed by another ^^. In other words, ^^ is a "command-prefix " character. If it is followed by one of the command characters, say x for escape to command level, then that action is performed. If another character follows, then that character is sent. Since ^^ isn't a command character.... Of course the command-prefix character can be changed by the user. There is also a setting allows you to use break (which isn't ascii) to get to terminal server's command level. -andy -- Andy Freeman UUCP: ...!decwrl!shasta!andy forwards to ARPA: andy@sushi.stanford.edu (415) 329-1718/723-3088 home/cubicle