Re: Which key combos are not possible in remote Emacs session because terminal interferes?

[Hikaru Ichijyo <ichijyo@macross.sdf.jp>]

Bob Proulx <bob@proulx.com> writes:

> When using a local graphical interface every key press and release is
> individually available for use.  Therefore any combination is
> possible.

Yes, true.  On Linux/X11/x86, I'm able to get "Super" from the Windows
key.  This seems to be already preconfigured, as I didn't have to do
anything to get that behavior.  My convenience key bindings that I've
setup with the Super key are only available when I'm in X though because
of the behavior your describing.

[...]
> At one time the meta key set the "high" bit.  ASCII is a 7-bit
> encoding leaving the 8th bit available to be set.  This now conflicts
> with use of UTF-8 unicode and AFAIK this is no longer used anywhere by
> anyone who cares about UTF-8 due to this.  I do not miss it.
>
> Most terminals now encode the meta key as an escape sequence sending
> the ESC character followed by the desired character.  M-w for example
> (holding down Alt on a US-PC keyboard and pressing w) will be encoded
> as an ESC w two character sequence.  This often needs explicit
> configuration.  XTerm for example needs this resource set explicitly
> or it will instend send the 8-bit value yielding different results.
>
>   XTerm*metaSendsEscape:true
>
> Some people undoubtedly like the 8-bit Alt key behavior.  For example
> it allows typing in many glyphs using the Alt key instead of the
> Compose or AltGr keys using the international input methods.  It is a
> personal preference but I prefer to have a working meta key for emacs
> and I can enter the non-ascii characters using the Compose key.

I've found that on Linux, (unlike the Super/Windows key), use of
Alt/Meta over SSH works transparently and as expected both in xterm
windows and on the VTY console.  I don't know which mechanism they're
using to achieve that, "high-bit" or sending an ESC first, but it works,
and I like it.  I didn't have to do anything myself to configure it to
act this way.

> Without a working meta key they would send all M- sequences by sending
> ESC explicitly first.  ESC w is the same to emacs as M-w.  Any C-M-
> something or M-C- something sequences will be ESC followed by the C-
> something character.  For example C-M-r would be ESC C-r.

I remember the bad old days of having to do that in a terminal program
while connected by dialup modem to a machine that had Emacs on the
site end.  Escape-this, Escape-that...Escape play a D-minor seventh
diminished guitar chord while holding down the right pedal and humming a
traditional Nepalese song and waving your arms.  Having a real Meta key
that works over remote session is nicer.  :)

-- 
He that would make his own liberty secure must guard even his enemy from
oppression; for if he violates this duty, he establishes a precedent
that will reach to himself.
					--Thomas Paine