[Info-vax] USB keypads, PC laptops and VT-series terminal emulation

[Michael T. Davis]

In article <4ACE7428.2016913C at spam.comcast.net>, David J Dachtera
<djesys.no at spam.comcast.net> writes:

>"Michael T. Davis" wrote:
>>
>>         I use an old installation of QPC's QVT Term for VMS access.  It has
>> a few issues, but I've either learned to live with them, or I've managed to
>> work around them.  I recently acquired a new laptop, and I really need a
> proper
>> numeric keypad for proper VT-series terminal emulation.  (The "embedded"
> keypad
>> on the laptop just won't cut it.)
>
>I'd be curious to know why.

	It's barely functional, since I have to look at the keyboard to figure
out the "equivalent" keypad key.  With an actual keypad, I know what key I'm
pressing by feel.

>
>Different emulators treat the functions keys rather differently.
>
>(WRQ-)Reflection will, for example, use the NUM LOCK key as PF1 by
>default, where some other emulators may move VT-PF1 to the PC F1 key.
>Since the PC F1 through F4 keys usually have special meaning to Windows,
>Reflection doesn't map these to NO SCROLL, PRINT SCREEN, SETUP and DATA.
>
>You may just need to get used to the PF1 thru PF4 keys being somewhere
>other than under the usual fingers on a laptop keyboard. Note also that
>on some laptops (I think Dell Latitude D610 is one example), the numeric
>keypad mode is selected using the laptop's "Fn" key, and then the NUM
>LOCK state determines how those keys behave: NUM LOCK ON = Numerics, NUM
>LOCK OFF = Cursor Keys.
>
>Using Reflection, about the only issue I've had is with a ThinkPad T20
>which "loses" the laptop keyboard NUM LOCK key when you have an external
>keyboard connected. You can use one keyboard or the other, but not both.

	The emulators I'm using treat NumLock, "/", "*" and "-" on the keypad
as PF1-PF4.  I tried the keypad I have (a Kensington 33006) on my desktop PC
(running XP Pro SP3), and there's not that much difference from its behavior
on my Vista (SP2) laptop.  As a previous poster observed with the Targus
keypad he has, the NumLock on my keypad changes the state of the keypad
"literally."  When NumLock on the keypad is active, the numeric keys and
period (or decimal point) generate their "literal" values; with NumLock
disabled, the keypad keys map to their non-numeric (PC) equivalents (e.g.
KP7 maps to the Home key).  "/", "*", "-", "+", and Enter on the keypad
actually send the same keycodes as the same keys on my regular keyboard,
regardless of NumLock, but that has a certain amount of logic tied to it.

	Ultimately, I think it's an implementation issue.  Some keypads are
designed as the model I have, and others are fabricated to exactly mimic
the keypad section of a conventional keyboard.  I need the latter.

>
>D.J.D.

Regards,
Mike
--
                                         |    Systems Specialist: CBE,MSE
         Michael T. Davis (Mike)         | Departmental Networking/Computing
 http://www.ecr6.ohio-state.edu/~davism/ |     The Ohio State University
                                         |     197 Watts, (614) 292-6928
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