🚀 go-pugleaf

In <9104191706.AA10953@cwns10.INS.CWRU.Edu> ak104@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Robert Clark) writes:

>      Does anyone know why DEC on VT200 and 300 terminals
>    mapped the ESC key to CTRL-3 and CTRL-3 to the ESC key?

Actually, when VT200 and VT300 series are in "native" mode,
ctrl-<number> sends octal 3<number>.
That is ctrl-3 send 33, ctrl-4 send 34 and so on.
If you use the VT200 or VT300 in VT100 mode, ESC is also available
on F11 (I think it is).
On the VT300 you also have the option of rearranging the keyboard in the
setup, moving some keys around, so that ESC is placed on the key in the
upper left corner, instead of <~ `> or whatever key is placed there.

>      I use the EMACS editor, which is a very popular editor
>    for mainframe computers, and it requires the use of the
>    ESC key. It's rather annoying to have to hit CTRL-3 for 
>    the ESC key, particularly when there's no logical reason
>    why it should be that way.

Yup. There is no clear reson why DEC did such a stupid thing as trying
to remove the ECS key. Whith the VT300 they did a half retreat, but it
still is a small pain.

>      I could map the ESC key back to itself but I use other
>    terminals such as vt100 and AMIGAS, PC'S, and MACINTOSHES
>    and it would be a major pain to have to map or de-map
>    the key depending on what term I'm using everytime I
>    log on.

I don't get this. You can always check what terminal you are using, and
only do a remap if you have a VT200 or VT300. Or are you using VT200 and
VT300 emulators on your AMIGAs and so on?

>      What's the deal here?

No deal, just stupidity.

======================================================================
Everybody know that the DECstation	- I'm on a bus
is a pdp8, which is a RISC, but		- on a psychodelic trip,
where did MIPS computers get into it?	- reading murder books
					- and tryin' to stay hip.

	- Johnny Billquist		- Billy Idol

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