Seiler@MIT-XX.ARPA (03/01/84)
From: Larry Seiler <Seiler@MIT-XX.ARPA> I read in a trade mag that you can specify the character sequences the VT2xx will return when you hit the function keys. So even though these keys have to be above the number row, they don't have to be off to the side, and you don't have to use VT100 emulation mode to have them. Larry -------
LCAMPBELL%dec-marlboro@sri-unix.UUCP (03/02/84)
From: Larry Campbell <LCAMPBELL@dec-marlboro> I don't know much about the VT2xx, but I do know about the Rainbow, which uses the same keyboard (the LK201A). The LK201 is a very smart keyboard with its own micro. It does not generate ASCII -- it generates what are called keycodes, one for each of the 100 or so keys. And it sends a keycode when you press the key and a keycode when you release it. This is true of *all* the keys (even ctrl and shift). It's up to the box at the other end of the cord to interpret the keycodes. That box could perfectly well pretend the keyboard was a Dvorak keyboard, or that the backquote key was ESC (for all you vi freaks), or that the "compose character" key was actually a META key (!). You can also program autorepeate information independently for each of several groups of keys. The keyboard is divided into a number (7?) of groups, and each group can point to one of four autorepeate parameter blocks. These blocks specify the length of time you must hold the key down before it autorepeats, the interval between successive autorepeat characters, and whether to autorepeat at all. It's interesting to note that while the Rainbow 100 doesn't allow control characters or the shift key to autorepeate, the Rainbow 100+ does. It's the same keyboard, just set up differently by software. Sorry for the length of this -- just trying to point out that if you don't like the way the LK201 works (on a micro - Rainbow or Pro), you can change it. --------
john@genrad.UUCP (John Nelson) (03/05/84)
Wrong, wrong, wrong! You can only program the SHIFTED function keys. The non-shifted keys send out an escape sequence, and this behaviour can NOT be modified. Not only that, but F1-F5 are DEDICATED for things like "SETUP" "LOCAL/ONLINE" etc, and couldn't be re-programmed anyway! CONTROL-3 is more convenient than SHIFT-F1! No, I'm afraid DEC really screwed this one up good!