gnu@hoptoad.uucp (John Gilmore) (05/09/89)
This is a known problem with a known (but unimplemented) solution.
The problem is that there are terminals that autowarp, terminals that
don't, and terminal where you have no idea whether they do. (VT100's
are among these last, since it's controlled by a DIP switch and can't
be changed or interrogated by the host.)
Unfortunately, the termcap "am" capability only has two meanings, and
neither of them is "I don't know whether it autowraps". Adding the
"xm" capability only complicates things, it doesn't solve this basic
problem.
The solution is for programs and libraries to ignore the "am" capability,
and to always follow a character in column 80 with a cursor positioning
code.
--
John Gilmore {sun,pacbell,uunet,pyramid,amdahl}!hoptoad!gnu gnu@toad.com
A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free State,
the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.