Hi,

I am running version 5.35 on Windows XP and I have been using AbsoluteTelnet for years. I use it primarily to log into various linux machines and I find I have a problem when I am running applications that use curses in an AbsoluteTelnet window.

For example when configuring a linux kernel, I run make menuconfig which uses curses. I can not find any keys that allow me to navigate in the window properly. Neither tab nor the arrow keys on the keyboard work. I usually eventually give up and use an x window instead.

I have the following options set. VT keypad turned off, BS CR/LF 8 bit, ansii CR is CR, LF is LF, Scroll Sync->Resync on tty input.

Thanks in advance,

--Tom

What emulation are you using and what is the value of the TERM environment variable?

Brian,

Thanks for your prompt response.

terminal type is set to ansi in options.

on linux:

$ echo $TERM
ansi

Try switching to xterm, then disconnect and reconnect. Make sure TERM says 'xterm'. It should get set automatically at connect time, but it doesn't hurt to check.

Did this help?

Brian,

Thanks for your help. I set the term type to xterm and Linux tty session inherits the terminal type properly. I just tried it with "make menuconfig" and yes, it helps. The screen formats properly now.

However, my windows keyboard arrow keys don't map. Touching the down arrow key make the cursor jump down 4 lines instead of 1. I tried it after setting the VT keypad box.

By the way, thanks for your excellent customer support and your attention to detail.

--Tom

Where/how can I reproduce this? What version of linux do I need to have to do a 'make menuconfig'?

Are there any other curses apps that are exhibiting this behavior that I may have a better chance reproducing?

Brian,

Thanks for your help. Any recent version of Linux would do. make menuconfig is the first step to build a Linux kernel and allows you to configure kernel options on an "ordinary" terminal as opposed to an xwindow.

However, as I implied in my last posting it is no longer an issue. I think the curses problem is fixed because the screen formats perfectly and all the things seem to get painted in the right place. I think using xterm term type fixed it and I think you for your help.

My problem now is to get the arrow keys to input the right character sequences to the xterm and I think this is a different issue.

--TFH

I agree it's probably a different issue. My concern is still whether or not it is an AbsoluteTelnet issue.

In order to know for sure, I'll have to reproduce the issue. Is there a specific directory I need to be in to execute this make command?

Brian

Brian,

Download a linux kernel from kernel.org such as the most recent 2.6.21 kernel and put it in a directory in a user account.

You don't need to be root. unzip it and build it. The following commands should do this for you.

cd tmp
wget  http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v2.6/linux-2.6.21.tar.bz2 
tar -xvjf linux-2.6.21
cd linux-2.6.21
make menuconfig

Let me know how it works out, --Tom

I finally got around to trying this. No problems at all. The menu navigation worked fine. I tested in xterm mode.

If you have anything further to add to help reproduce the problem, please let me know.

Brian

Brian,

I actually am still having this problem. I am running FC7. It works fine on a native xterm running in a gnome desktop.

I am not saying that this is necessary an absolute telnet problem. It is just that it is only on absolute telnet that I have the problem.

The arrow keys work fine in a normal xterm window until I start the curses application.

I am still running 5.35. I haven't upgraded yet.

--Tom