[comp.sys.dec] program function keys on vt320's. HOW??

jmbaldwi@sactoh0 (Joel M. Baldwin) (06/14/89)

This is my first ever posting to USENET and I hope that this is
an appropriate question in the appropriate group.

The question is: How do you program the function keys on a VT320?

I have an application where I want to have the F6 through F20 keys
programmed with certain strings, so that when the operators hit
these keys this string is sent to the computer.  I want the main
program that starts up the application to send to the terminal the
Escape sequences to program the keys.

However the book that came with our terminals and a few phone calls
to DEC have not resulted in a sequence that works when I type them
into the terminal when it is in local.

The sequence that I've been trying is:

EscP0;1|17/4849Esc\    to program F6 with "HI" in 7 bit mode

Anyone see anything that I'm doing wrong?   

Thanks in advance!

leichter@CS.YALE.EDU (Jerry Leichter (LEICHTER-JERRY@CS.YALE.EDU)) (06/15/89)

	In article <1050@sactoh0>, jmbaldwi@sactoh0 (Joel M. Baldwin) writes...
	This is my first ever posting to USENET and I hope that this is an
	appropriate question in the appropriate group.

	The question is: How do you program the function keys on a VT320?

	I have an application where I want to have the F6 through F20 keys
	programmed with certain strings, so that when the operators hit these
	keys this string is sent to the computer.  I want the main program
	that starts up the application to send to the terminal the Escape
	sequences to program the keys.

It is impossible to program the unshifted function keys.  What you can change
is the sequence sent by the Shifted function keys.  That is:  F6 always sends
whatever it sends, but you can change Shift-F6.

	However the book that came with our terminals and a few phone calls to
	DEC have not resulted in a sequence that works when I type them into
	the terminal when it is in local.

I don't understand what you are are trying to do in local mode.  Key defini-
tions change what the keys send to the host.  You can't define a key to take
some local action.

	The sequence that I've been trying is:

	EscP0;1|17/4849Esc\    to program F6 with "HI" in 7 bit mode

This escape sequence is correct and should work.  Note again that you have
programmed Shift-F6, NOT F6 alone.

Also, enter SETUP and make sure the keys are not locked - they could be set
to Locked in the stored state, in which case you'll never manage to change
them.
							-- Jerry