Table of Contents

Troubleshooting keyboard problems

If an alt-KEY does not work, for example because this combination is in use by the window manager, press first <esc> and then the KEY, it is equivalent to alt-KEY.

If a function key does not work, please run the kbd-test utility which is bundled with CLEX. Press the key in question and compare the output with the values in the table.

pressed keyexpected kbd-test outputnotes
<left>KEY_LEFTessential key
<right>KEY_RIGHTessential key
<up>KEY_UPessential key
<down>KEY_DOWNessential key
<home>KEY_HOMEimportant key
<page up>KEY_PPAGEimportant key
<page down>KEY_NPAGEimportant key
<del>KEY_DC
(\x7F is incorrect, but might work)
important key
<backspace>KEY_BACKSPACE
(ctrl-H is incorrect, but shall work fine)
ctrl-H has the same function in the input line
<insert>KEY_IC or KEY_IL ctrl-T has the same function in the input line
<F1>, <F2>, ...KEY_F(1), KEY_F(2), ... essential keys, there is a workaround
shift-<left>KEY_SLEFT optional key, alt-B has the same function in the input line
shift-<right>KEY_SRIGHT optional key, alt-F has the same function in the input line
ctrl-<left>kLFT5 (or other digit at the end) optional key, like <esc> <left>
ctrl-<right>kRIT5 (or other digit at the end) optional key, like <esc> <right>
ctrl-<up>kUP5 (or other digit at the end) optional key, like <esc> <up>
ctrl-<down>kDN5 (or other digit at the end) optional key, like <esc> <down>

If your results differ from the values above, then CLEX is not getting the correct input. Your terminal is probably not set properly or the termcap/terminfo database does not match the terminal's keyboard output.

Please do not report keyboard problems as CLEX bugs if kbd-test output differs from the correct values in the table.