I have ancient serial terminals connected to a NetBSD 9.0. So far all works perfectly, except:

When I start an application software, this software switches the terminal's keypad to application mode, so the keypad cannot be used inside the application. After leaving this special application, the keypad mode is reset.

I guess the /usr/share/misc/terminfo database holds the information on how to switch the keypad's mode. But what to look for? Btw, it doesn't make a difference what TERM environment is set. Tried it with "vt510" (the physical terminal is a DEC VT 510), as well as with "vt220" and "vt100".

A hint on how to alter the termcap database was appreciated ☺ TIA!

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  • Blackavar See section 2.8 Keyboard Menu. You could also type these (using another console or xterm):

    env TERM=vt510 tput smkx > /dev/vt510-ttyname    # DECKPAM—Keypad Application Mode
env TERM=vt510 tput rmkx > /dev/vt510-ttyname    # DECKPNM—Keypad Numeric Mode

# OR

printf '\033=' > /dev/vt510-ttyname    # DECKPAM—Keypad Application Mode
printf '\033>' > /dev/vt510-ttyname    # DECKPNM—Keypad Numeric Mode

    FYI: DECKPAM, DECKPNM, DECNKM

      Blackavar See section 2.8 Keyboard Menu. You could also type these (using another console or xterm):

      env TERM=vt510 tput smkx > /dev/vt510-ttyname    # DECKPAM—Keypad Application Mode
env TERM=vt510 tput rmkx > /dev/vt510-ttyname    # DECKPNM—Keypad Numeric Mode

# OR

printf '\033=' > /dev/vt510-ttyname    # DECKPAM—Keypad Application Mode
printf '\033>' > /dev/vt510-ttyname    # DECKPNM—Keypad Numeric Mode

      FYI: DECKPAM, DECKPNM, DECNKM

          You can alter the default termcap definitions for your TERM, by specifying editline(7)'s bindings inside a ~/.editrc file (or whatever pointed by $EDITRC). You can checkout your TERM's definition via infocmp, and compare capabilities codes by looking up terminfo(5). My ~/.editrc for screen-256color.

          bind -v                                         # use vi mode
bind '^D' vi-list-or-eof
bind '^H' vi-delete-prev-char
bind '^J' ed-newline
bind '^L' ed-clear-screen
bind '^R' em-inc-search-prev
bind '^U' vi-kill-line-prev
bind '^W' ed-delete-prev-word
bind '^\' vi-command-mode
bind '\E[3~' ed-delete-prev-word                # delete
bind '\EOD' vi-prev-word                        # kp_left
bind '\EOC' vi-next-word                        # kp_right
bind '\E[1;5D' vi-prev-word                     # ctrl_left
bind '\E[1;5C' vi-next-word                     # ctrl_right
bind '\E[C' ed-next-char                        # right 
bind '\E[D' ed-prev-char                        # left
bind '\E[4~' ed-end-of-file                     # end
bind '\E[5~' ed-search-next-history             # pg_up
bind '\E[6~' ed-search-prev-history             # pg_down

          rvp

          smkx and rmkx were the essential hints for me, thanks. I altered the vt510 terminfo entry by removing those both items. Now it works as expected.

          Thanks a lot!

          • Jay likes this.