Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!nrl-cmf!ames!oliveb!apple!well!svc
From: svc@well.UUCP (Leonard Rosenthol)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac
Subject: Re: Looking for good 160-column VT100 emulator
Summary: I disagree...
Keywords: 160-columns VT100 emulation
Message-ID: <11468@well.UUCP>
Date: 30 Apr 89 20:06:50 GMT
References: <813@m3.mfci.UUCP> <11425@well.UUCP> <21712@santra.UUCP>
Organization: Whole Earth 'Lectronic Link, Sausalito, CA
Lines: 41

In article <21712@santra.UUCP>, jmunkki@kampi.hut.fi (Juri Munkki) writes:
> In article <11425@well.UUCP> svc@well.UUCP (Leonard Rosenthol) writes:
> >In article <813@m3.mfci.UUCP>, ryland@mfci.UUCP (Chris Ryland) writes:
> >> [Comments about a 160 column VT100 emulator]
>
> There is not such thing as a perfect VT100 emulator. There are always
> differences. The VT100 documentation only provides escape codes for
> putting the terminal into 80 or 132 column mode, but it doesn't stop
> people using other terminal sizes. (From telnet for example.)
> 
	I will agree with you that there is no such thing as a perfect VT100
emulator, both w/regard to emulating the STANDARD VT100 and to extensions to
the STANDARD.  However it seems to me that extensions should be made with 
care and with some standardization.  For example, the most common extension to
the VT100 on the Macintosh is the presence of the scrollback buffer.  Also
the ability to select text, and use the editMenu command on it.  
	Extending the VT100 with things such as >24 lines and >132 columns (or
other wierd combinations) is, I guess, a nice thing to do, but what I don't
see is how you can do that within the confines of the DEC VT100/ANSI specs.
For example, when you do when the host issues the ESC[?3h or 3l to put it
into 80 or 132 mode?  Is that what you do?  Is that what you SHOULD DO??

> The original poster wanted to have two EMACS windows side by side. This
> is a perfectly good reason for wanting 160 columns, although I would
> either prefer using something like uw or telnet or setting the terminal
> to have more than 24 rows. There's no reason why an emulator should
> be limited to 80x24 or 132x24. You just have to define that an "excellent
> VT100 emulation" can be in 160 columns.
> 
	I am still trying to figure out how you would convince the HOST to
give you two EMACS windows side by side...Anyway, I am not staying that having
>132 columns is not a reasonable request, I am simply saying that this is the
type of feature that needs to be WELL THOUGHT OUT before being implemented 
otherwise my 160 column emulator may/will not work like yours and users will
complain as they thought VT100 was a standard!??!?

-- 
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Leonard Rosenthol        |  GEnie : MACgician
Lazerware, inc.          |  MacNet: MACgician
UUCP: svc@well.UUCP      |  ALink : D0025