Very Computer

? " ...
? "    (We're both assuming that the delete or backspace key works normally,
? " right?)

? You consider normal behavior for delete to be backspace, and normal
? behavior for backspace to give help, right?

?               Yours truly, a vi user.

The ASCII definition of DEL is `rubout', i.e. delete-backward-character.
The ASCII definition of BS is `backspace', a format effector that moves
the carriage one space to the left. This is not the same as deleting the
previous character.

The standard erase character on VAXEN is `delete', and has always been,
since the days when VAXEN were PDP-11's. To their credit, Berkeley changed
their standard character set to be compatible (except for ^D) with DEC
OS's. ^H is a mnemonic for `help', and makes as much sense as most editing
commands. If you don't like the bindings, change them.

                Yours truly, a GNU emacs user.

        National Bureau of Standards
        Flamer's Hotline: (301) 975-5688
        The opinions expressed are solely my own
        and do not reflect NBS policy or agreement
        Careful with that VAX Eugene!

Quote:>The ASCII definition of DEL is `rubout', i.e. delete-backward-character.

Quite an imagination you have.
DEL originated as an overpunch of all channels on the paper tape,
to delete the character thereby overpunched -- NOT the previous one.

Quote:>The standard erase character on VAXEN is `delete', and has always been,
>since the days when VAXEN were PDP-11's. To their credit, Berkeley changed
>their standard character set to be compatible (except for ^D) with DEC
>OS's.

DEC OSes certainly have made DEL perform an erase function for a long
time, but UNIX is not a DEC OS and has had its own conventions.  Since
DEL was the default interrupt key since `way back when, it was not such
a good idea for a UNIX implementation to change it.  Many UNIX users do
use DEL for the interrupt key (and usually BACKSPACE for the erase key,
and ^U or ^X for line delete),

Quote:>^H is a mnemonic for `help', and makes as much sense as most editing
>commands.

Funny, mine says "BACK SPACE" right on the key cap.  That doesn't
suggest "help" to me...