Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site medstar.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!gatech!medstar!robin From: robin@medstar.UUCP (Robin Cutshaw) Newsgroups: net.unix-wizards,net.info-terms Subject: Termcap Standardization Message-ID: <192@medstar.UUCP> Date: Thu, 15-Aug-85 15:26:22 EDT Article-I.D.: medstar.192 Posted: Thu Aug 15 15:26:22 1985 Date-Received: Sun, 18-Aug-85 02:30:54 EDT Distribution: net Organization: Medical Systems Technology and Research, Inc., Atlanta, Ga. Lines: 37 Xref: watmath net.unix-wizards:14406 net.info-terms:626 I have been working on a set of programs that make heavy use of function keys and cursor motion keys if they are available. Using the termlib stuff for termcap is proving to be useless. It seems that function key definitions (k0-k9) are used differently for various terminals. Some entries use k0 for function key #1 and k9 for function key #10 (e.g. visual, tvi920, altos), whereas some use k1 for key #1 and k0 for key #10 (most others). Also, some terminals with more than 10 function keys use kA, kB, etc. while some use k10, k11, k12, etc. There seems to be no way to get them all covered! The line drawing character set definitions are equally confused. Many termcap entries just don't define characters that are there at all, and some leave out entries like GC, GL, and GR. Many terminals that have the single line drawing character set also have the double line and double-single line sets also, but there is no definition mechanism in termcap. In general, there are many ommisions and errors in the termcap database. I thought about using the termcap compare program posted not too long ago, but this doesn't help others who might like to use my programs. PROPOSAL : A standard termcap from a single source with version support and terminal entry submission and screening. This doesn't have to break anything already there, it would just standardize for everyone (app developers and end users) a database that is well defined and supposedly correct. Granted, this would be a monumental task at first, but as standard termcaps settled down it wouldn't be to difficult. It doesn't seem to be an impossible task. Does terminfo have such problems? -- ---- Robin Cutshaw uucp: ...!{akgua,gatech}!medstar!robin