Re: termcap and DISPLAY weirdness

From: John Santore (john_at_santore.com)
Date: 11/16/03 

Date: Sun, 16 Nov 2003 16:14:11 GMT

Thomas Dickey <dickey@saltmine.radix.net> wrote in
news:bp85c1$ma4$1@news1.radix.net:

> John Santore <john@santore.com> wrote:
>
>> I'm on an AIX box running 4.3.3, ML9
>> Recently upgraded from 4.3.2. I don't think
>> it's AIX specific, though.
>
> it's probably not termcap, either (more likely terminfo)

I looked into the terminfo stuff some, but basically
I think all I want out of vt220 is the function keys.

>> We've encountered the following error and I
>> was wondering if anyone out there had any ideas.
>
>> Using a X emulator (Kea.X), we can log into the
>> machine and spawn an xterm. When we try to run
>> a particular application we get the following
>> problems:
>> 1) TERM is set to vt220, however function keys
>> and other vt220 specific issues aren't working
>> 2) The application is basically a green screen
>> type app, but it uses several solid line type
>> characters. Unfortunately, within the xterm
>> the border lines look like a's with umlauts and
>> miniature 3s, and the formatting is all munged up.
>
>> If, however, from within that xterm, I telnet back to the
>> machine, both the function keys and the application lines
>> look and work just fine. Unfortunately, I need to spawn
>
> is $TERM set to vt220 there as well? (perhaps not).

It is set to vt220 at all times. Both within the xterm,
as well as when I telnet.
 
>> various xview type windows so a straight telnet isn't a
>> sufficient solution. I've tried setting DISPLAY and
>> xhosting and the like, but upon setting DISPLAY, even the
>> telnet session app no longer works (both screen draw and
>> function keys)
>
>> Additional piece. If I telnet to the machine using a
>> non X windows emulator (CRT), lines and function keys
>> work ok. If, however, I set DISPLAY to a machine
>> with the Xwindows emulator, my lines and function keys
>> cease to work.
>
> then it might be a font problem - but the comment about telnet'ing back
> appears to be missing some detail.

I don't believe it to be a font issue because:
1) when I telnet from within the xterm back to localhost, I'm
still within that xterm, and things are correctly drawn.
I'd assume that if it were a font issue, it'd be screwed up
both times.
2) the change seems solely related as to whether a DISPLAY
environment variable is set. (unfortunately, I need the
DISPLAY to spawn the xviews and what not)

To summarize, it appears that both the function key issue (term setting)
and the screen draws (font?) are affected by the display env variable.

                        -John