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Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!usc!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!sbi!zeuswtc!hera!victoria
From: victoria@hera.Sbi.Com (Victoria S. Drozdov)
Newsgroups: comp.windows.x,comp.windows.open-look
Subject: strange meta key problem on xnews server with twm/vtwm
Message-ID: <562@aurora.hera.Sbi.Com>
Date: 3 Apr 91 16:25:04 GMT
Followup-To: comp.windows.x
Organization: Fulcrum - Salomon Brothers, NY
Lines: 42


We have been running into a strange problem.

The environment is Sparc1+/Sparc2, SunOS4.1/4.1.1,
Openwindows xnews server, twm/vtwm.

Once in a while, it seems like the keyboard would
go into a strange state - can't type into the xterm
and other applications, strange characters would appear.
Also, all the mouse bindings would be lost - I would
just get a beep when I try to use the mouse buttons.

Strangely enough, pressing the diamond/meta key to the
right of the space bar would fix the problem!


We analyzed the problem farther. It seems like for some
reason the Meta key goes into a shift/on state. I noticed
the problem when using xev to see what's going on.


Has anyone out there run into a similar problem?

I am trying to understand whether it is the window manager
or the X server that is causing the state of the Meta key
(which is supposed to be a stateless key) to change. Does
anyone know if the window manager can cause this problem?
Or is it only the X server that can control the state
of the meta key?

I would appreciate any pointers here. At this time, I am
not sure how to figure out what's causing this strange
state.

Thanks to all in advance.

-Victoria
-- 
          ===== FOR SALOMON EYES ONLY ======
Victoria S. Drozdov             Phone:  (212)747-7595
Fulcrum                         Email:   victoria@fulcrum.sbi.com
One New York Plaza, 43rd floor