Section 3-5: During Session: No or Strange Events

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Subsection 3.5.1

Unknown Terminal

The screen setup should be changed as follows:

% setenv TERM vt100


Subsection 3.5.2

Screen Accidentally Locked

If the screen suddenly stops and nothing happens any longer, this may indicate that you accidentally hit <CTRL><S> (screen stop). The screen lock can be removed as follows:

<CTRL><Q>


Subsection 3.5.3

Screen Occupied by another Program - no Reaction

If the screen becomes inactive and nothing happens any longer, this usually indicates that another program is running. Most programs can be killed as follows:

<CTRL><C>

(direct) or

<CTRL><Z>

% kill %1


Subsection 3.5.4

Screen Occupied by another Program - Takes all Input

If the screen displays all your input without taking any action, another program may be running (e.g., the editor, which is used to modify data files). To exit an editor program, try the following:

<CTRL><D>

For mail, etc.

<ESC><:><q><!>

If you have no <ESC> key, try <CTRL><3> instead.


Subsection 3.5.5

Keys Give Wrong Response

<CURSOR>: In some sessions across the network, the <CURSOR> keys either have no effect at all or result in ^]A or similar. Make sure that you are running the most recent version of the operating system and terminal emulation software. On PCs, the program manual should explain how to use cursor keys. On systems running VMS or UNIX, the terminal setting may be wrong. Some PC terminal emulators are known to have problems with the cursor keys.

<DELETE>: In some sessions across the network, the delete key may produce ^? (or similar) or jump to the beginning of the line. Make sure that you are running the most recent version of the operating system and terminal emulation software. On PCs, the program manual should explain how to use <ERASE> and <BACKSPACE> keys instead of <DELETE>. On systems running VMS or UNIX, <CTRL><H> might work as well. Any key can be re-mapped to the <DELETE> key as follows (press the current <DELETE> key after the word "erase"):

% stty erase ^?

If you work on DEC's family of keyboards, try:

% stty dec


Subsection 3.5.6

National Character Set

National character sets are a notorious source of oddities. E.g., the pipe symbol (|) is difficult to find on Swiss keyboards and occasionally prints as national u(umlaut) on Swiss screens. Depending on your terminal or terminal emulator, there are ways around this by setting the communication line to eight bit. Other solutions include the re-mapping of the keyboard, but this should be left to system specialists.

WORKAROUND

Due to some technical problems with localised keyboards it might be difficult for you to display the characters "{" and "}" by typing the corresponding characters on the keyboard. The only option to survive is to find the character elsewhere and transfer it. E.g., use the command 'genhelp distances example' and use the COPY option of your terminal or terminal emulator to take the {*} into the Paste buffer. PASTE the resulting keystrokes where appropriate.


Subsection 3.5.7

Need to Delete 'lock'-File

In some cases, the software you want to use does not work because a previous session is still active or has been terminated abnormally. Programs like 'nn' or 'seqed' are known to create so-called 'lock'-files which need to be removed in order to restart a session. Refer to section "File Handling Commands" in order to delete such a file.


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