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From: bc@cyb-eng.UUCP (Bill Crews)
Newsgroups: net.micro.pc
Subject: Re: READING PC/XT KEYPAD
Message-ID: <868@cyb-eng.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 1-Jun-86 12:56:51 EDT
Article-I.D.: cyb-eng.868
Posted: Sun Jun  1 12:56:51 1986
Date-Received: Wed, 4-Jun-86 17:13:39 EDT
References: <728@tekcbi.UUCP>
Distribution: na
Organization: Cyb Systems, Austin, TX
Lines: 21

> I know that the keys on the IBM PC all emit strange codes and that according
> to the DOS manual, all keys have an extended ASCII code.  If I run a program
> that "quotes" a key that is typed, I can see all keys except "5".  How do
> you detect that key.  I know it can be done as Crosstalk, Smarterm, etc.
> detect it but I don't know how they do it.
> 
> How is it done???  I want to add it to my MicroEmacs.
> 
> Jim Boland

DOS calls stick to ASCII or "extended ASCII".  To get to all keys, you must
use BIOS and deal with the scan codes.  This is something I have done a lot,
but it must be understood that compatibility with other MS-DOS machines is
sacrificed, and it is possible to have problems maintaining compatibility
with other programs concurrently contending for the keyboard (like, maybe
Sidekick).  Try looking at int 16 in the BIOS listings of the IBM PC
Technical Reference Manual.
-- 
	- bc -

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