Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!think.com!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!caen!hellgate.utah.edu!fcom.cc.utah.edu!cc.usu.edu!jrd
From: jrd@cc.usu.edu
Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.apps
Subject: Re: KERMIT key mapping - help please
Message-ID: <1991May23.191745.47889@cc.usu.edu>
Date: 23 May 91 19:17:44 MDT
References: <1991May16.155755.220@mof.govt.nz>
Organization: Utah State University
Lines: 50

In article <1991May16.155755.220@mof.govt.nz>, barkerc@mof.govt.nz writes:
> Anybody and I mean anybody  -  KERMIT 3.0 KEYBOARD MAPPING!!
> 
> I have a problem with Kermit 3.0.  Due to the substandard documentation
> of public domain software, things are slightly foggy.   Has anybody
> created an initialisation file for key mapping a 101 keyboard to a VMS
> keyboard for using Kermit 3.0?   Or does anyone have an example or
> two to get me going?
> 
> Look forward to hearing from anybody and I mean anybody.
> 
> 
> Catherine Barker
> PC Support Officer
> Forest Research Institute
> Ministry of Foresty Computer Centre
> Rotorua
> New Zealand
> 
> replies to: Barkerc@mof.govt.nz or post to newsgroup
--------------------
Catherine, and others who may feel the same way:
	First, as the documentation accompanying MS-DOS Kermit clearly states,
the User's Manual is the book "Using MS-DOS Kermit", published by Digital
Press and Prentice Hall. Now that is hardly substandard documentation.
	Second, MS-DOS Kermit is NOT Public Domain software. It's free and
must remain so (cost recovery is ok however), but it's copyrighted (see the
startup banner).
	Third, the HELP screen says to press ? for context sensitive help.
That includes exploring each command with only the program running on the
computer for assistance. SET KEY is such a command. Try it, it's neat.
	The HELP screen also says 'Read more about it in "Using MS-DOS
Kermit"'.
	Now, on specifics of VTxxx keyboards. Try SET KEY, press Enter, then
at the prompt for a key to be defined choose a handy one, press it, at the
prompt for a definition type a query mark ("?") to get a list of possibilities.
The VTxxx keys are indentified and grouped together. For example,
	SET KEY
	 Push key to be defined: <we press F12>
	See Kermit ident for the key and it's current definition, if any
	 Enter new definition: \kdecf12
(note the leading \k to identify this as an action verb, as explained in the
help screen for Enter new definition). Verbs do complex actions. Once you
have the layout you like the SET KEY commands can be placed in a handy file
such as MSKERMIT.INI. The syntax is SET KEY \390 \kdecF12  in this example.
The book goes through this in great detail and there are many interesting
tricks one can use to make life easy, such as very rapid keyboard layout
changes and more via a command which you can name and create.
	Joe D.