Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!usc!wuarchive!uunet!auspex!guy
From: guy@auspex.auspex.com (Guy Harris)
Newsgroups: comp.unix.programmer
Subject: Re: save and regerate the current screen before and after a command
Message-ID: <5065@auspex.auspex.com>
Date: 5 Jan 91 22:55:35 GMT
References: <1991Jan3.164022.9108@cubmol.bio.columbia.edu> <517@playroom.UUCP> <SPOT.91Jan4011119@WOOZLE.GRAPHICS.CS.CMU.EDU>
Distribution: usa
Organization: Auspex Systems, Santa Clara
Lines: 10

>no, but it does switch to and use the alternate screen, thus
>preserving the terminal's previous contents.  At least that what it
>does for me...

Probably because you're using a terminal, or a terminal emulator, that
*has* an alternate screen; not all do.  "xterm" does; Sun "shelltool"
doesn't; Sun "cmdtool" has something that, in some circumstances, acts
like one (the "ti" and "te" capabilities switch a "cmdtool" from
"cmdtool mode" to "shelltool mode", or from "shelltool mode" to "cmdtool
mode", respectively, and those modes have independent screen images).