[comp.os.os2.misc] Questions about TE/2

yee@aix01.aix.rpi.edu (Crimson Avenger) (06/15/91)

I am running OS/2 SE 1.3 and TE/2 1.10 and encountering some problems.

a) In VT100 mode, I think it receives an escape color code and the whole
screen goes crazy.  The top line displays everything and line 2-24 is 
frozen.  I had to switch to a different terminal emulation (TTY) to get 
that annoying effect off and switch back to vt100.

b) How do one set colors in TE/2?  I don't like the black and white background.

c) TE/2 is a hassle to figure out, especialy the modem initialization 
string.  (I got it figured out in TE2.INI)

d) On my enhanced keyboard, with the num lock off, the arrow keys on the
pad does weird stuff when using vi to edit my text.  The real arrow keys
move the cursor correctly, but the pad arrows gives me letter.  I think it
probably has to do with how OS/2 is getting key codes.

Thanks..Any help would be appreciated.

This is my first time, I finally hacked at 1.3 to get it correctly on my
machine all night.

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-- 
-- Robert aka Crimson Avenger      (yee@rpi.edu or crimson_avenger@mts.rpi.edu)
   Once a hacker, always a hacker. (usere3jp@rpitsmts.bitnet)

goodearl@world.std.com (Robert Goodearl) (06/21/91)

>> To: Robert Yee <yee@rpi.edu>

Robert,
 
  I don't have access to Internet but a friend relayed your article
"Questions about TE/2" to me.  So, I'll take this opportunity to
respond!  First, thanks for giving TE/2 a good workout and being
interested enough to post these questions.  Okay, point-by-point:
 
> a) In VT100 mode, I think it receives an escape color code and the
> whole screen goes crazy.
 
  There were indeed problems with TE/2's handling of screen
attributes in VT100 mode in version 1.10B and earlier.  1.10C is
current and it has fixed a lot of the problems.. I'm just about to
release an interim version of COMMPAK2.DLL that fixes more problems
with VT100.  I don't quite know how to get the files onto
comp.binaries.os2 (but perhaps my friend can assist).  In any event,
I wouldn't be opposed to mailing you a diskette with the shareware
release if you'd like -- just drop me your address if you'd like.
 
> b) How do one set colors in TE/2?  I don't like the black and white
> background.
 
  In TE2.INI there are a whole host of color attributes you can set.
The one that controls the terminal-mode screen is "TermAttr".  You
can set it to any number from 0 to 255 (standard DOS-OS/2 color
attrubute numbers and you can use hex notation if you find it more
intuitive like I do).  Else, there's a color matrix in the TE2.DOC
file that should serve as an adequate lookup table.  Now, a host or a
BBS can reset this color for you!  In 1.10C you can set an INI
variable ClsReset to TRUE and Alt-C will clear the screen AND reset
your default attribute.  A little more brute-forcey, ColorLock
disables the emulator from reacting to ANY ESCape color codes.
 
> c) TE/2 is a hassle to figure out, especialy the modem initialization 
> string.  (I got it figured out in TE2.INI)
 
  Sorry.  A user-friendly, setup/customize routine is one of the
pending projects and it -will- appear in a near-future version of
TE/2 -- I just can't tell you how near yet...
 
> d) On my enhanced keyboard, with the num lock off, the arrow keys on the
> pad does weird stuff when using vi to edit my text.  The real arrow keys
> move the cursor correctly, but the pad arrows gives me letter.  I think it
> probably has to do with how OS/2 is getting key codes.
 
  No, it's the VT100 keyboard emulation at work.  You'd probably be
best off to forget that there are arrows inscribed on the keycaps on
the numeric keypad.  The real VT100 has both a dedicated cursor
keypad and a numeric keypad and I try to mimic them -- for instance,
the regular Up Arrow transmits the sequence "ESC [ A" whereas the
numeric keypad "8" transmits something like "ESC [ q" unless the host
has reprogrammed the keypad into "Application Mode", in which case it
will transmit "ESC O q" (I might have my A's and q's wrong, but you
get the point).  The host is also fully capable of turning NumLock on
and off at will.  Thus, the numeric keypad on the PC mimics the
VT100's three keypad modes.  vi is probably not expecting the
sequences sent from this keypad.
 
  Thanks again ... I'm sending this via an MCI Mail gate, you should
be able to get mail back through the same gate.  Let me know if you'd
like me to mail you a diskette!
 
Brady Flowers
Oberon Software
518 Blue Earth Street
Mankato, MN 56001
507-388-7001
507-388-1154 (BBS)
 

Please reply to the above MCI gateway address.  I'm posting this as a
-- 
Bob Goodearl -- goodearl@world.std.com
Principal Software Engineer, Easel Corporation