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From: manheime@nbs-amrf.UUCP (Ken Manheimer)
Newsgroups: net.emacs
Subject: Re: How to set up vt240 for GNU?
Message-ID: <419@nbs-amrf.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 30-Sep-86 14:49:41 EDT
Article-I.D.: nbs-amrf.419
Posted: Tue Sep 30 14:49:41 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 4-Oct-86 12:09:10 EDT
References: <21@orion.UUCP>
Distribution: net.emacs
Organization: National Bureau of Standards
Lines: 48

> Does anyone regularly use vt240's with UNIX GNU Emacs?  I would like to
> know how to best invoke Meta X (with one keystroke) and how to take advantage
> of all those wonderful looking keys.  Specific details on setting up
> vt240 function keys and/or setting up GNU key bindings would be appreciated.
>[...]
> 	...!hplabs!sdcrdcf!trwrb!orion!heins
> 
> 	We are a way for the universe to know itself. -- Carl Sagan

I don't know about ESC-x, but for the problem of reaching for the
esc key i punted - i just bind the backtick to the ESC-prefix
function in my .emacs file:

(if (equal (getenv "TERM") "vt100")
    (progn (global-set-key "\`" 'ESC-prefix)
	   (define-key esc-map "`" 'eval-expression))

[Actually, to get the effect of ESC-x in one keystroke, bind the
key you'd like to use to the 'execute-extended-command function.]

The backtick is located in *just* the right spot on the keyboard to
serve as a standing for escape, and is only rarely necessary as a
literal - occasionally in lisp and even less frequently in cshell,
perhaps, and then it can be literally inserted by backquoting.
Also, some modes can't use the esc-map for escape-prefixed
functions, so in those cases you have to reach for the genuine ESC
key.  (Was dec attacking unix, through vi and emacs, by putting that
key way out of the way there:-?  Ergh.)

Incidentally, i extremely prefer the vt240 lookalike i use to the
original.  It's a micro-term 420, and has many things going for it.
First of all it doesn't have the noisy, inconvenient pedestal unit,
and has a much nicer key feel.  Most importantly (for me), it
provides the means to change the (goddamn) "compose character" key
to either do nothing or send an escape character.  Perhaps i have
peculiar hands, but i can't seem to avoid hitting that (goddamn)
key accidentally, so the no-op option is perfect for me.  The esc
interpretation may be an answer to the misplaced meta-key for some
people, but i just keep hitting it accidentally.

Oh, btw, i don't have any affiliation with micro-term, didn't even
select the terminal myself.  I think the vt240 is a travesty,
though, and can't recommend this competitor (if you have to have a
240 type terminal) enough.

Ken Manheimer,		...!seismo!nbs-amrf!manheime, *soon* to be on arpanet
National Bureau of Standards Automated Manufacturing Facility
Gaithersburg, MD