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

[VAXman- at SendSpamHere.ORG]

In article <hamevs$jko$1 at charm.magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu>, DAVISM at ecr6.ohio-state.edu (Michael T. Davis) writes:
>
>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.

The Apple keyboard I'm now using with an Ubuntu laptop has an alternate
keypad that maps nicely into the VMS space.  It also has 2 keys were the
typical IBM PeeCee keyboard has one making the EDT delete character and   
delete word features possible.  I don't know how this would work on the
PeeCee, especially if you're using Micro$oft Virus Collector.  Billzebub
Gates has probably installed an Apple-detection doomsday routine.

-- 
VAXman- A Bored Certified VMS Kernel Mode Hacker    VAXman(at)TMESIS(dot)ORG

  http://www.quirkfactory.com/popart/asskey/eqn2.png
  
  "Well my son, life is like a beanstalk, isn't it?"