[comp.os.vms] Define/Key and programs

nagy%warner.hepnet@LBL.ARPA (06/19/87)

>  I want to define keypad keys for use with various command-driven programs.
>When I try DEF/KEY, the definitions seem to disappear when the program is run.
>Am I doing something wrong, or am I s.o.l?
>/kenw
     
Define/Key just associates a DCL command with a key.  These definitions
are only active when you are at the DCL level (and not inside a program).
They wouldn't do the program any good anyway unless the program was up
to interpreting DCL commands...

However, there is a way for your program to use keypad keys in a way
similar to Define/Key.  Look at the SMG (Screen Management routines)
documentation in Volume 8B (Run-Time Library) of the VMS Documentation
set.  The SMG input routines allow you to define a keypad or function
key as equivalent to a set of characters that your program interprets.
After all, that's how the debugger works (it uses SMG).

= Frank J. Nagy
= Fermilab Research Division EED/Controls
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