


VT220KEYS(1)                                         VT220KEYS(1)


NAME
       vt220keys - define SHIFTED function keys on VT220 terminal

SYNTAX
       vt220 [ -cil ] [ keyname keystring ] ...

DESCRIPTION
       Vt220keys sets up a "vt220  terminal"  in  vt200  mode  to
       allow  user  definition of the SHIFTED function keys. Each
       keyname specified on the command line will be loaded  with
       the  corresponding  keystring.   A  keyname  is one of the
       following "words": F6 F7 F8 F9 F10 F11 ESC F12 BS  F13  LF
       F14 HELP DO F17 F18 F19 F20.  Keystrings must be quoted if
       spaces, tabs, or shell metacharacters are included.

       Vt220keys expects to receive some  combination  of  option
       flags  and/or argument pair(s), otherwise an usage message
       is printed.

       The options are:

       -c     Clears all SHIFTED function key definitions  before
              setting them to user defined strings.

       -i     Read  the  initialization  file  $HOME/.vt220rc for
              SHIFTED function key  definitions.   This  is  done
              before  any  argument pair specified on the command
              line is processed.  Each line in the file must con-
              sist  of  two  fields (separated by spaces or tabs)
              where the first field is the keyname and the second
              field  is  the keystring.  The second field extends
              to the end  of  the  line;  thus  a  keystring  may
              include  spaces or tabs.  A newline (return) may be
              specified within the string by using the C Language
              notation for newline (\n).

       -l     Locks  the  function  keys from further definition.
              Locking occurs after processing the  initialization
              file (if the "i" option is specified) and any argu-
              ment pairs.  The only way to unlock is  by  turning
              the power off.

EXAMPLES
       vt220keys -ci
       vt220keys F6 'nroff -ms '
       vt220keys -i F20 'cc -O -c '
       vt220keys -l HELP man

OTHER FEATURES
       Pressing  the  function  keys without using the shift key,
       generates a string of characters.  With csh(1) this string
       can be aliased to some command.  For example:
            alias ^[[17~ "ls -CR | more"
       where  ^[[17~ is what is generated by pressing the F6 key.



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VT220KEYS(1)                                         VT220KEYS(1)


       Therefore  F6  can  perform  two  commands,  depending  if
       pressed with/without the SHIFT key.

       Vt220keys can be called from your .login or .profile file.
       Typically an user will create a  initialization  file  and
       include a line like
            vt220keys -ci
       OR
            vt220keys -cil
       in  the above mentioned files.  This way the SHIFTED func-
       tion keys will be set to your favorite commands when  log-
       ging in.

CAVEATS
       If the SHIFTED function keys are unlocked, redefinition of
       a SHIFTED function key will rewrite the old string.

       There are 256 bytes available  for  the  SHIFTED  function
       keys.   Space  is  supplied  on  a  first-come/first-serve
       basis.  After the 256 bytes are used, you can't define any
       more  keys  unless  space is cleared.  This can be done by
       redefining a key to contain a string of fewer bytes.

       All key definitions are stored in volatile  RAM,  and  are
       lost when terminal power is lost.

       The  ESC  key  (unshifted)  no longer generates the proper
       escape character.  This is of particular importance  since
       many  editors  require use  of the ESC key.  Here are some
       available alternatives:

            The escape character can be generated  by  typing  ^[
            (control-[).

            Use vt220keys as follows (note ^[ is control-[)
                 vt220keys ESC '^['
            This  will require you to press the SHIFT key and ESC
            to generate the escape sequence.

            Some editors, allow other character(s) to be  substi-
            tuted  for  the  escape  character.  For example with
            emacs include this line in your .emacs_pro:
                (bind-to-key "ESC-prefix" "\033[23~")
            Thus when the ESC key is pressed,  emacs  will  allow
            the characters generated (^[[23~) to perform the same
            function as the escape character.

FILES
       $HOME/.vt220rc - initialization file

SEE ALSO
       VT220 Programmer Reference Manual
       VT220 Programmer Pocket Guide




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VT220KEYS(1)                                         VT220KEYS(1)



























































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