[Info-vax] How to get F Keys to works on Putty Terminal Emulation

[sy3913 at googlemail.com]

On Wednesday, April 3, 2013 8:32:55 PM UTC+1, Wilm Boerhout wrote:
> Stephen Hoffman mentioned on 3-4-2013 15:58: > On 2013-04-03 06:33:04 +0000, sy3913 at googlemail.com said: > >> Functions keys F5 and onwards on my Putty terminal emulation onto VMS >> 7.1-2 do not work. > > Please provide evidence of that. Have you tried PuTTY directly? > >> Am using a Toshiba laptop to remote desktop onto another windows >> machine running Win server 2008, and running Putty on there to access >> the vms server. > > That's a complex configuration. Please simplify it for testing. > >> Function keys F1 to F4 work, but F5 onwards do not. > > Do the function keys work when directly connected to PuTTY session? > >> I have tried all Keyboard settings on Putty (VT100+, VT400 etc) to no >> avail. > > Did you also try simplifying the network connection and removing the VNC? > >> Any advice would be greatly appreciated ! > > The function key sequences can and do work correctly with OpenVMS, as > they're widely used. > > PuTTY, too, does see some use with OpenVMS, and (modulo some corner > cases) does work. > > Which implies this is a Microsoft Windows support question, either with > the laptop or the VNC client, or with the Windows Server box and the VNC > server, or possibly with PuTTY and its interaction with VNC. In all > likelihood, the VNC connection is eating the key sequences. But that's > a guess. > > Please use a simpler network configuration, such as a VPN directly into > the target network. Or go on-site, and work there. Or work with your > Windows IT and networking organizations to resolve your Microsoft > Windows issues, or ask your questions of an organization or a forum that > provides support and resources for Microsoft Windows and Windows Server > questions. Alternatively, avoid using the function keys with OpenVMS, > and stay within what works on your Windows configurations. Most OpenVMS > tools and utilities can be used from the command line, and without using > the function keys or the keypad. > > You're probably working in some network that believes this complex > configuration is necessary, so I'd suggest working with your manager and > with IT security to "better harmonize" the IT configuration requirements > with your particular job requirements. > I use this setup all the time, with RDP (mstsc) from one Windows machine (laptop) to another (secured terminal server), and from there with puTTY to VMS. All function keys (well, up to F12) working, as well as the editor keypad. The OP never mentioned VNC, but if it's indeed the VNC product, that may be the problem. Regular Windows RDP / mstsc work fine.

Thanks for the responses - I am using MS Remote Desktop Connection from my Toshiba laptop running Win 7 to connect to the win 2008 server, and then puTTy from there. 
I tried the 3 options on Remote Desktop (on my laptop) - Options - Local Resources - Keyboard - (Winows Key Combinations), and they did not make any difference.
I think i read somewhere in the puTTy FAQ to find out what the key escape sequence is and email their support. Is there a way to find out the key sequence received by the vms session when pressing a key ...or is this approach a waste of time.
Thanks again for any help.