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DM KEYS

7.0;kd (key_definition) *DM*, revision 7.0, 83/08/15
KD (KEY_DEFINITION) -- Set or display key definition.
usage:  kd key_name [[definition] ke]


FORMAT

  KD key_name [[definition] KE]


  The  KD  command defines a keyboard key as a sequence of DM commands.  It also
  can display the definition of a key.


ARGUMENTS

  key_name
  (required)         Specify the name of the key to  be  defined  or  displayed.
                     Key  names are available from HELP DM KEYS.  Enclose normal
                     alphanumeric and punctuation keys in quotation marks.

  definiton
  (optional)         Specify sequence of DM commands that represent desired  key
                     function;  separate  commands  with NEWLINEs or semicolons.
                     Definition can be any number of commands, but cannot exceed
                     256 characters.  Definitions may contain other  pre-defined
                     keys   (i.e.,  key  definitions  may  be  embedded  in  one
                     another).

                     The input request character, '&', which is frequently  used
                     in key definitions, must be preceded by an escape character
                     (@) when the KD command appears in a script.

                     If  'definition'  is not specified and KE is present (i.e.,
                     definition is null), then the  current  key  definition  is
                     deleted and the key reverts to its normal graphic value, if
                     any.    If  KE  is  also absent, then the definition of the
                     named key is displayed in the DM message window.

                     Default if omitted:  see above

  KE
  (optional)         Signal the end  of  the  KD  command.    This  argument  is
                     required  if  'definition'  is  present,  or if you wish to
                     delete a definition by specifying a null definition.

                     Default if omitted:  display key_name definition


EXAMPLES

    1. Command: KD L3              Display definition of key L3.

    2. Command: KD F6 AU;TR KE     Define F6 key to move the cursor to end of
                                    previous line in window.

    3. Command: KD ^C KE           Delete current definition of CTRL/C.

  You can embed key definitions in key definitions, and thereby define keys that
  define other keys.  The embedded key definition follows the same rules as  any
  other  key  definition.    The  KE  that  ends the embedded definition must be
  separated from the  next  command  by  an  "escaped"  semicolon;  that  is,  a
  semicolon preceded by the @ character.  For example:

    Command: KD F3 KD ^X ES 'April is the cruelest month' KE@; PV KE

  changes  the  definition  of  the  F3  key, which normally just invokes the DM
  command PV, so that it also changes the definition of CTRL/X to print out  the
  string  shown.    If  the  ';'  were  not preceded by an escape character, the
  definition would not be accepted.

  Note that key definitions within key definitions are scanned THREE times:   1)
  when  the  outer  key  definition is made, 2) when the outer key definition is
  executed and the inner key definition is made,  and  3)  when  the  inner  key
  definition  is  executed.   Because of this, you must exercise great care when
  escaping (with "@") certain special characters such as "@" itself.


RELATED TOPICS

  More information is available.  Type:

  - HELP DM KEYS
    for a list of standard key definitions

Typewritten Software • bear@typewritten.org • Edmonds, WA 98026