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From: franks@hpuamsa.neth.hp.com (Frank Slootweg CRC)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.hp
Subject: Re: hp700/92 termcap entry
Message-ID: <28510033@hpuamsa.neth.hp.com>
Date: 10 Apr 91 14:28:22 GMT
References: <1991Apr08.213842.7600@comp.vuw.ac.nz>
Organization: HP-Sales Office-The Netherlands
Lines: 31


  I don't know anything about "Ease", but if you bought it specifically
for your HP system (i.e. you got executables (a.out), not source), then
complain to the "Ease" supplier, because then "Ease" is broken.

  Why? HP-UX is a (mainly) System V Interface Definition compliant
system. SVID does not define "termcap", but defines "terminfo" instead.
Third parties which supply packages for a SVID compliant system should
use "terinfo", not "termcap". If they use "termcap" then they are
broken, period. There are lots of (even very large and famous) Third
Parties trying to pull this stunt. Don't accept it. HP-UX (this is (I
believe) not in the SVID) has even *termcap* routines which access the
*terminfo* database. These routines are for easy porting of Berkeley or
System III packages which use termcap. No application ever should have
accessed the termcap *file*.

  If your supplier does not solve your/his problem *and* you do not have
a Series 300/400 then ask your HP support person for a 2622 termcap
entry from a 300/400. The 2622 entry will probably work (but is not
supported) for the 700/92.
  Before we get flames on "Why only 300/400?" : The predecessor (200) of
the 300 had a System III compliant (i.e. termcap) HP-UX. To allow
upgrades of Series 200 systems to System V compliant versions of HP-UX,
the latest SIII/HP-UX termcap file was carried over to SV/HP-UX. The
300/400 just benefits from this historical fact. Since the 800 was
System V from the start, it had no need for termcap.

  So in short: We care about conforming to standards and upgradeability,
others do less.

Frank Slootweg, Dutch Customer Response Center.