DOC HOME SITE MAP MAN PAGES GNU INFO SEARCH PRINT BOOK
 

keyboard(HW)

keyboard -- system console keyboard

Description

The system console has two separate parts: the keyboard and the display (see display(HW)).

The keyboard is used to type data, and send certain control signals to the computer. UNIX system software performs terminal emulation on the console screen and keyboard, and, in doing so, makes use of several particular keys and key combinations. These keys and key combinations have special names that are unique to the UNIX system, and may or may not correspond to the keytop labels on your keyboard.

When you press a key, one of the following happens:

When a key is pressed (a keystroke), the keyboard sends a scancode to the computer. This scancode is interpreted by the keyboard driver. The actual code sequence delivered to the terminal input routine (see termio (7)) is defined by a set of internal tables in the driver. These tables can be modified by software (see the discussion of ioctl calls below). In addition, the driver can be instructed not to do translations, delivering the keyboard up and down scan codes directly.

Changing meanings

The action performed by a key can be changed by using certain keys in combination. For example, the <Shift> key changes the ASCII values of the alphanumeric keys. Holding down the <Ctrl> key while pressing another key sends a control code (such as <Ctrl>-d, <Ctrl>-s, and <Ctrl>-q). Holding down the <Alt> key also modifies a key's value. The <Shift>, <Ctrl>, and <Alt> keys can be used in combination.

Switching screens

To change screens (virtual terminals), first run the vtlmgr command (see vtlmgr(C)). Switch the current screen by typing <Ctrl><Alt> followed by a key that identifies the desired screen. Any active screen can be selected by following <Ctrl><Alt> with Fn, where Fn is one of the function keys. <F1> refers to the first virtual terminal screen, <F2> refers to the second virtual terminal screen, and so on. <Ctrl><Alt><Esc> refers to the main console display (/dev/console).

The default screen switch enable sequence <Ctrl><Alt> is configurable. The SYSREQ table entry (see the ``Keyboard map'' section) can be changed using ioctl calls (see the section ``ioctl calls''). If the screen switch enable sequence is changed from the default, you must use the newly set sequence to switch virtual terminals. The default keyboard mapping can be restored using the mapkey(ADM) command.

Special keys

The following table shows which keys on a typical console correspond to UNIX system keys. In this table, a hyphen (-) between keys means you must hold down the first key while pressing the second. The mapping between characters that generate signals and the signal generated is set with stty(C), and may be changed (see stty(C)).

Name Keytop Action
INTR <Del> Stops current action and returns to the shell. This key is also called the RUB OUT or INTERRUPT key.
BACKSPACE LEFT ARROW Deletes the first character to the left of the cursor.
Note that the ``cursor left'' key also has a left arrow (LEFT ARROW) on its keytop, but you cannot backspace using that key.
<Ctrl>-d <Ctrl>-D Signals the end of input from the keyboard; also exits current shell.
<Ctrl>-h <Ctrl>-H Deletes the first character to the left of the cursor. Also called the ERASE key.
<Ctrl>-q <Ctrl>-Q Restarts printing after it has been stopped with <Ctrl>-s.
<Ctrl>-s <Ctrl>-S Suspends printing on the screen (does not stop the program).
<Ctrl>-u <Ctrl>-U Deletes all characters on the current line. Also called the KILL key.
<Ctrl>-e <Ctrl>-E Quits current command and creates a core
    file, if allowed. (Recommended for debugging only.)
ESCAPE <Esc> Special code for some programs. For example, changes from insert mode to command mode in the vi(C) text editor.
<Return> [Enter] (down-left
arrow) or
<Enter> 		Terminates a command line and initiates an action from the shell.
Fn <Fn> Function key n. <F1>-<F12> are unshifted, <F13>-<F24> are shifted <F1>-<F12>, <F25>-<F36> are <Ctrl>-<F1> <F1>-<F12> and <F37>-<F48> are <Ctrl>-<Shift>-<Shift> <F1>-<F12>.
The next Fn keys (<F49>-<F60>) are on the number pad (unshifted):
<F49> ``7''
<F50> ``8''
<F51> ``9''
<F52> ``-''
<F53> ``4''
<F54> ``5''
<F55> ``6''
<F56> ``+''
<F57> ``1''
<F58> ``2''
<F59> ``3''
<F60> ``0'' 

 Name        Keytop        Action
 INTR        Del           Stops current action and returns to the shell.
                           This key is also called the RUB OUT or INTERRUPT
                           key.
 BACKSPACE                 Deletes the first character to the left of the
                           cursor.
                           Note that the ``cursor left'' key also has a left
                           arrow () on its keytop, but you cannot backspace
                           using that key.
 Ctrl-d      Ctrl-D        Signals the end of input from the keyboard; also
                           exits current shell.
 Ctrl-h      Ctrl-H        Deletes the first character to the left of the
                           cursor.  Also called the ERASE key.
 Ctrl-q      Ctrl-Q        Restarts printing after it has been stopped with
                           Ctrl-s.
 Ctrl-s      Ctrl-S        Suspends printing on the screen (does not stop the
                           program).
 Ctrl-u      Ctrl-U        Deletes all characters on the current line.  Also
                           called the KILL key.
 Ctrl-e      Ctrl-E        Quits current command and creates a core
                           file, if allowed. (Recommended for debugging only.)
 ESCAPE      Esc           Special code for some programs.  For example,
                           changes from insert mode to command mode in the
                           vi(1) text editor.
 Return       (down-left   Terminates a command line and initiates an action
             arrow) or     from the shell.
             Enter
 Fn          Fn            Function key n.  F1-F12 are unshifted, F13-F24 are
                           shifted F1-F12, F25-F36 are Ctrl-F1 F1-F12 and
                           F37-F48 are Ctrl-Shift-Shift F1-F12.
                           The next Fn keys (F49-F60) are on the number pad
                           (unshifted):
                           F49  ``7''
                           F50  ``8''
                           F51  ``9''
                           F52  ``-''
                           F53  ``4''
                           F54  ``5''
                           F55  ``6''
                           F56  ``+''
                           F57  ``1''
                           F58  ``2''
                           F59  ``3''
                           F60  ``0''

Keyboard map

The keyboard mapping structure is defined in /usr/include/sys/kd.h. Each key can have ten states. The first eight states are:

Base
<Shift>
<Ctrl>
<Alt>
<Ctrl>-<Shift>
<Alt>-<Shift>
<Alt>-<Ctrl>
<Alt>-<Ctrl>-<Shift>

The two remaining states are indicated by two special bytes. The first byte is a special state byte whose bits indicate whether the key is special in one or more of the first eight states. The second byte is one of four codes represented by the characters ``C'', ``N'', ``B'', or ``O'' which indicate how the lock keys affect the particular key.

The following table describes the default keyboard mapping. All values, except for special keywords (which are described later), are ASCII character values.


Scan code
The scan code generated by the keyboard hardware when a key is pressed. There are no table entries for the scan code generated by releasing a key.

Base
The normal value of a key press.

<Shift>
The value of a key press when <Shift> is also being held down.

<Ctrl>
The value of a key press when <Ctrl> is also being held down.

<Alt>
The value of a key press when <Alt> is also being held down.

Lock
Indicates which lock keys affect a particular key:

C
<Caps Lock>

N
<Num Lock>

B
both <Caps Lock> and <Num Lock>

O
locking is off

SRQTAB
This entry provides a simple index of the default virtual terminal key selectors to the scan code to which it is assigned. The actual SRQTAB table is a stand-alone table which can be read or written using the KDGKBENT and KDSKBENT ioctl calls.

The remaining columns are the values of key presses when combinations of the <Ctrl>, <Alt>, and <Shift> keys are also held down.

Scan
code
  		Base
 
  		<Shift>
 
  		<Ctrl>
 
  		<Ctrl>
<Shift>
  		<Alt>
 
  		<Alt>
<Shift>
  		<Alt>
<Ctrl>
  		<Alt>
<Ctrl>
<Shift> 		Lock
 
  		SRQTAB
 
 
1 esc esc esc esc esc esc esc esc O nop
2 '1' '!' '1' '1' escn escn nop nop O nop
3 '2' '@' '2' nul escn escn nop nop O nop
4 '3' '#' '3' '3' escn escn nop nop O nop
5 '4' '$' '4' '4' escn escn nop nop O nop
6 '5' '%' '5' '5' escn escn nop nop O nop
7 '6' '^' '6' rs escn escn nop nop O nop
8 '7' '&' '7' '7' escn escn nop nop O nop
9 '8' '*' '8' '8' escn escn nop nop O nop
10 '9' '(' '9' '9' escn escn nop nop O nop
11 '0' ')' '0' '0' escn escn nop nop O nop
12 '-' '_' '-' ns escn escn nop nop O nop
13 '=' '+' '=' '=' escn escn nop nop O nop
14 bs bs bs bs bs bs bs bs O nop
15 ht btab ht btab ht btab ht btab O nop
16 'q' 'Q' dc1 dc1 escn escn nop nop C nop
17 'w' 'W' etb etb escn escn nop nop C nop
18 'e' 'E' enq enq escn escn nop nop C nop
19 'r' 'R' dc2 dc2 escn escn nop nop C nop
20 't' 'T' dc4 dc4 escn escn nop nop C nop
21 'y' 'Y' em em escn escn nop nop C nop
22 'u' 'U' nak nak escn escn nop nop C nop
23 'i' 'I' ht ht escn escn nop nop C nop
24 'o' 'O' si si escn escn nop nop C nop
25 'p' 'P' dle dle escn escn nop nop C K_PREV
26 '[' '{' esc nop escn escn nop nop O nop
27 ']' '}' gs nop escn escn nop nop O nop
28 cr cr cr cr cr cr cr cr O nop
29 lctrl lctrl lctrl lctrl lctrl lctrl lctrl lctrl O nop
30 'a' 'A' soh soh escn escn nop nop C nop
31 's' 'S' dc3 dc3 escn escn nop nop C nop
32 'd' 'D' eot eot escn escn k_dbg nop C nop
33 'f' 'F' ack ack escn escn nop nop C K_FRCNEXT
34 'g' 'G' bel bel escn escn nop nop C nop
35 'h' 'H' bs bs escn escn nop nop C K_VTF
36 'j' 'J' nl nl escn escn nop nop C nop
37 'k' 'K' vt vt escn escn nop nop C nop
38 'l' 'L' np np escn escn nop nop C nop
39 ';' ':' ';' ':' escn escn nop nop O nop
40 '´' '"' '´' '"' escn escn nop nop O nop
41 '`' '~' '`' '~' escn escn nop nop O nop
42 lshift lshift lshift lshift lshift lshift lshift lshift O nop
43 '\\' '|' fs '|' escn escn nop nop O nop
44 'z' 'Z' sub sub escn escn nop nop C nop
45 'x' 'X' can can escn escn nop nop C nop
46 'c' 'C' etx etx escn escn nop nop C nop
47 'v' 'V' syn syn escn escn nop nop C nop
48 'b' 'B' stx stx escn escn nop nop C nop
49 'n' 'N' so so escn escn nop nop C K_NEXT
50 'm' 'M' cr cr escn escn nop nop C nop
51 ',' '<' ',' '<' escn escn nop nop O nop
52 '.' '>' '.' '>' escn escn nop nop O nop
53 '/' '?' '/' ns escn escn nop nop O nop
54 rshift rshift rshift rshift rshift rshift rshift rshift O nop
55 '*' '*' '*' '*' escn escn nop nop O nop
56 lalt lalt lalt lalt lalt lalt lalt lalt O nop
57 ' ' ' ' nul nul escn escn nop nop O nop
58 clock clock clock clock clock clock clock clock O nop
59 fkey1 fkey13 fkey25 fkey37 fkey1 fkey13 fkey25 fkey37 O K_VTF+1
60 fkey2 fkey14 fkey26 fkey38 fkey2 fkey14 fkey26 fkey38 O K_VTF+2
61 fkey3 fkey15 fkey27 fkey39 fkey3 fkey15 fkey27 fkey39 O K_VTF+3
62 fkey4 fkey16 fkey28 fkey40 fkey4 fkey16 fkey28 fkey40 O K_VTF+4
63 fkey5 fkey17 fkey29 fkey41 fkey5 fkey17 fkey29 fkey41 O K_VTF+5
64 fkey6 fkey18 fkey30 fkey42 fkey6 fkey18 fkey30 fkey42 O K_VTF+6
65 fkey7 fkey19 fkey31 fkey43 fkey7 fkey19 fkey31 fkey43 O K_VTF+7
66 fkey8 fkey20 fkey32 fkey44 fkey8 fkey20 fkey32 fkey44 O K_VTF+8
67 fkey9 fkey21 fkey33 fkey45 fkey9 fkey21 fkey33 fkey45 O K_VTF+9
68 fkey10 fkey22 fkey34 fkey46 fkey10 fkey22 fkey34 fkey46 O K_VTF+10
69 nlock nlock nlock nlock nlock nlock nlock nlock O  
70 slock slock slock slock slock slock slock slock O  
71 fkey49 '7' fkey49 '7' fkey49 escn nop nop N  
72 fkey50 '8' fkey50 '8' fkey50 escn nop nop N  
73 fkey51 '9' fkey51 '9' fkey51 escn nop nop N  
74 fkey52 '-' fkey52 '-' fkey52 escn nop nop N  
75 fkey53 '4' fkey53 '4' fkey53 escn nop nop N  
76 fkey54 '5' fkey54 '5' fkey54 escn nop nop N  
77 fkey55 '6' fkey55 '6' fkey55 escn nop nop N  
78 fkey56 '+' fkey56 '+' fkey56 escn nop nop N  
79 fkey57 '1' fkey57 '1' fkey57 escn nop nop N  
80 fkey58 '2' fkey58 '2' fkey58 escn nop nop N  
81 fkey59 '3' fkey59 '3' fkey59 escn nop nop N  
82 fkey60 '0' fkey60 '0' fkey60 escn nop nop N  
83 del '.' del '.' del escn rboot nop N  
84 fkey60 fkey26 fkey60 nop sysreq sysreq sysreq sysreq O  
85 fkey58 fkey58 fkey58 fkey58 fkey58 fkey58 fkey58 fkey58 O  
86 fkey53 fkey53 fkey53 fkey53 fkey53 fkey53 fkey53 fkey53 O  
87 fkey11 fkey23 fkey35 fkey47 fkey11 fkey23 fkey35 fkey47 O K_VTF+11
88 fkey12 fkey24 fkey36 fkey48 fkey12 fkey24 fkey36 fkey48 O K_VTF+12
89 nop nop nop nop nop nop nop nop O K_NOP
90 nop nop nop nop nop nop nop nop O K_NOP
91 nop nop nop nop nop nop nop nop O K_NOP
92 nop nop nop nop nop nop nop nop O K_NOP
93 nop nop nop nop nop nop nop nop O K_NOP
94 nop nop nop nop nop nop nop nop O K_NOP
95 nop nop nop nop nop nop nop nop O K_NOP
96 nop nop nop nop nop nop nop nop O K_NOP
97 nop nop nop nop nop nop nop nop O K_NOP
98 nop nop nop nop nop nop nop nop O K_NOP
99 nop nop nop nop nop nop nop nop O K_NOP
100 nop nop nop nop nop nop nop nop O K_NOP
101 nop nop nop nop nop nop nop nop O K_NOP
102 nop nop nop nop nop nop nop nop O K_NOP
103 nop nop nop nop nop nop nop nop O K_NOP
104 nop nop nop nop nop nop nop nop O K_NOP
105 nop nop nop nop nop nop nop nop O K_NOP
106 nop nop nop nop nop nop nop nop O K_NOP
107 fkey53 fkey53 fkey53 fkey53 fkey53 fkey53 fkey53 fkey53 O  
108 nop nop nop nop nop nop nop nop O K_NOP
109 nop nop nop nop nop nop nop nop O K_NOP
110 nop nop nop nop nop nop nop nop O K_NOP
111 fkey51 fkey51 nop nop nop nop nop nop O K_NOP
112 nop nop nop nop nop nop nop nop O K_NOP
113 nop nop nop nop nop nop nop nop O K_NOP
114 ralt ralt ralt ralt ralt ralt ralt ralt O K_NOP
115 rctrl rctrl rctrl rctrl rctrl rctrl rctrl rctrl O K_NOP
116 slock slock brk brk slock slock brk brk O nline
117 '/' '/' nop nop escn escn nop nop O K_NOP
118 nop nop nop nop nop nop nop nop O K_NOP
119 slock slock brk brk slock slock brk brk O K_NOP
120 fkey50 fkey50 nop nop nop nop nop nop O K_NOP
121 del del del del del del rboot del O K_NOP
122 fkey57 fkey57 nop nop nop nop nop nop O K_NOP
123 fkey60 fkey60 nop nop nop nop nop nop O K_NOP
124 nop nop nop nop nop nop nop nop O K_NOP
125 fkey55 fkey55 nop nop nop nop nop nop O K_NOP
126 fkey59 fkey59 nop nop nop nop nop nop O K_NOP
127 fkey49 fkey49 nop nop nop nop nop nop O K_NOP 





The following table lists the value of each of the special
keywords used in the preceding tables.
The keywords are used only in the preceding tables for readability.
In the actual keyboard map, a special keyword is represented
by its value with the corresponding special state bit being set.





Name

Value

Meaning





nop

0

No operation - no action from keypress




lshift

2

Left-hand shift




rshift

3

Right-hand shift




clock

4

Caps lock




nlock

5

Numeric lock




slock

6

Scroll lock




alt

7

Alt key




btab

8

Back tab key - generates fixed sequence (ESC[ Z)




ctrl

9

Control key




lalt

10

Left-hand alt key




ralt

11

right-hand alt key




lctrl

12

Left-hand control key




rctrl

13

Right-hand control key




agr

14

ALT-GR key (European keyboards only)




fkey1

27

Function key #1




...

...

...




fkey96

122

Function key #96




sysreq

123

System request




brk

124

Break key




escn

125

Generate an ESC N x sequence, where x is
the un-alt'ed value of the scan code




esco

126

Generate an ESC O x sequence, where x
is the un-alt'ed value of the scan code




escl

127

Generate an ESC L x sequence, where x is the
un-alt'ed value of the scan code




rboot

128

Reboot system




debug

129

Invoke kernel debugger




NEXT

130

Switch to next virtual terminal on queue




PREV

131

Switch to previous virtual terminal on queue




FNEXT

132

Forced switch to next virtual terminal on queue




FPREV

133

Forced switch to previous virtual terminal on queue




VTF

134

Virtual Terminal First (VT00)




...

...

...




VTL

148

Virtual Terminal Last (VT14)




MGRF

149

Virtual Terminal Manager First.
Allows assigning special
significance to key sequence for actions by virtual terminal
layer manager.
Used in SRQTAB table.




...

...

...




MGRL

179

Virtual Terminal Manager Last.
Used in SRQTAB table.






 Name     Value   Meaning
 nop          0   No operation - no action from keypress
 lshift       2   Left-hand shift
 rshift       3   Right-hand shift
 clock        4   Caps lock
 nlock        5   Numeric lock
 slock        6   Scroll lock
 alt          7   Alt key
 btab         8   Back tab key - generates fixed sequence (ESC[ Z)
 ctrl         9   Control key
 lalt        10   Left-hand alt key
 ralt        11   right-hand alt key
 lctrl       12   Left-hand control key
 rctrl       13   Right-hand control key
 agr         14   ALT-GR key (European keyboards only)
 fkey1       27   Function key #1
 ...        ...   ...
 fkey96     122   Function key #96
 sysreq     123   System request
 brk        124   Break key
 escn       125   Generate an ESC N x sequence, where x is the un-
                  alt'ed value of the scan code
 esco       126   Generate an ESC O x sequence, where x is the un-
                  alt'ed value of the scan code
 escl       127   Generate an ESC L x sequence, where x is the un-
                  alt'ed value of the scan code
 rboot      128   Reboot system
 debug      129   Invoke kernel debugger
 NEXT       130   Switch to next virtual terminal on queue
 PREV       131   Switch to previous virtual terminal on queue
 FNEXT      132   Forced switch to next virtual terminal on queue
 FPREV      133   Forced switch to previous virtual terminal on queue
 VTF        134   Virtual Terminal First (VT00)
 ...        ...   ...
 VTL        148   Virtual Terminal Last (VT14)
 MGRF       149   Virtual Terminal Manager First.  Allows assigning
                  special significance to key sequence for actions by
                  virtual terminal layer manager.  Used in SRQTAB
                  table.
 ...        ...   ...
 MGRL       179   Virtual Terminal Manager Last.  Used in SRQTAB
                  table.





The following table lists names and decimal values
for ASCII characters in the preceding table.
Names are used in place of numeric constants to
make it easier to read the scan code table.
Only the decimal values are placed in the
ioctl buffer.
These values are taken from
ascii(M).





Name

Value





Name

Value




nul

0




soh

1




stx

2




etx

3




eot

4




enq

5




ack

6




bel

7




bs

8




ht

9




nl

10




vt

11




np

12




cr

13




so

14




si

15




dle

16




dc1

17




dc2

18




dc3

19




dc4

20




nak

21




syn

22




etb

23




can

24




em

25




sub

26




esc

27




fs

28




gs

29




rs

30




ns

31	




del

127






 Name   Value
 nul        0
 soh        1
 stx        2
 etx        3
 eot        4
 enq        5
 ack        6
 bel        7
 bs         8
 ht         9
 nl        10
 vt        11
 np        12
 cr        13
 so        14
 si        15
 dle       16
 dc1       17
 dc2       18
 dc3       19
 dc4       20
 nak       21
 syn       22
 etb       23
 can       24
 em        25
 sub       26
 esc       27
 fs        28
 gs        29
 rs        30
 ns     31
 del      127





The string mapping table is an array of 512 bytes
(typedef strmap_t) containing
null-terminated strings that redefine the function keys.
The first null-terminated
string is assigned
to the first function key, the second string is assigned to the second
function key, and so on.


There is no limit to the length of any particular
string;
however, the whole table can not exceed 512 bytes, including
nulls.
To make a string a null, add extra null characters.
The following table contains default function key values.



Default function key values





Function


key #

Function

<Shift>


function

<Ctrl>


function

<Ctrl>
<Shift>


function





1

ESC OP

ESC Op

ESC OP

ESC Op




2

ESC OQ

ESC Oq

ESC OQ

ESC Oq




3

ESC OR

ESC Or

ESC OR

ESC Or




4

ESC OS

ESC Os

ESC OS

ESC Os




5

ESC OT

ESC Ot

ESC OT

ESC Ot




6

ESC OU

ESC Ou

ESC OU

ESC Ou




7

ESC OV

ESC Ov

ESC OV

ESC Ov




8

ESC OW

ESC Ow

ESC OW

ESC Ow




9

ESC OX

ESC Ox

ESC OX

ESC Ox




10

ESC OY

ESC Oy

ESC OY

ESC Oy




11

ESC OZ

ESC Oz

ESC OZ

ESC Oz




12

ESC OA

ESC Oa

ESC OA

ESC Oa






 Function   Function   Shift      Ctrl       Ctrl Shift
 key #                 function   function   function
 1          ESC OP     ESC Op     ESC OP     ESC Op
 2          ESC OQ     ESC Oq     ESC OQ     ESC Oq
 3          ESC OR     ESC Or     ESC OR     ESC Or
 4          ESC OS     ESC Os     ESC OS     ESC Os
 5          ESC OT     ESC Ot     ESC OT     ESC Ot
 6          ESC OU     ESC Ou     ESC OU     ESC Ou
 7          ESC OV     ESC Ov     ESC OV     ESC Ov
 8          ESC OW     ESC Ow     ESC OW     ESC Ow
 9          ESC OX     ESC Ox     ESC OX     ESC Ox
 10         ESC OY     ESC Oy     ESC OY     ESC Oy
 11         ESC OZ     ESC Oz     ESC OZ     ESC Oz
 12         ESC OA     ESC Oa     ESC OA     ESC Oa




ioctl calls





KDGKBMODE

This call gets the current keyboard mode.
It returns one of the
following values, as defined in
/usr/include/sys/kd.h:

#define	K_RAW		0x00	/* Send row scan codes */
#define	K_XLATE		0x01	/* Translate to ASCII */




KDSKBMODE

This call sets the keyboard mode.
The argument to the call is either K_RAW or K_XLATE.
By using raw mode, the program can see the raw
up and down scan codes from the keyboard.
In translate mode, the translation
tables are used to generate the appropriate character code.


KDGKBTYPE

This call gets the keyboard type.
It returns one of the following values,
as defined in /usr/include/sys/kd.h:

#define	KB_84		1	/*84 key keyboard*/
#define	KB_101		2	/*101 key keyboard*/
#define	KB_OTHER	3	/*Other type keyboard*/




KDGKBENT

This call reads one of the entries in the translation tables.
The argument to the call is the address of one of the following structures,
defined in
/usr/include/sys/kd.h, with the first two fields filled in:



struct kbentry {
	unchar	kb_table;	/* Table to use */
	unchar	kb_index;	/* Entry in table */
	ushort	kb_value;	/* Value to get/set */
};




Valid values for the kb_table member are:

#define	K_NORMTAB     0x00 /* Base */
#define	K_SHIFTTAB    0x01 /* Shifted */
#define	K_ALTTAB      0x02 /* Alt */
#define	K_ALTSHIFTTAB 0x03 /* Shifted alt */
#define	K_SRQTAB      0x04 /* Select sysreq table */




The ioctl will get the indicated entry
from the indicated table and return it
in the third field.


The K_SRNTAB value for the kb_table member
allows access to the scancode indexed table
which allows assignment of a
given virtual terminal selector (K_VTF--K_VTL) or the
virtual terminal layer manager (K_MGRF--K_MGRL)
specialkey assignments.


The virtual terminal selector (K_VTF)
is normally associated with /dev/tty00,
on which the user login shell is commonly found.
The following terminal selectors also are used
to select virtual terminals:




K_VTF+1 for the 1st virtual terminal (/dev/vt01)


K_VTF+2 for the 2nd virtual terminal (/dev/vt02)


              . . .


K_VTF+12 for the 12th virtual terminal (/dev/vt12)




KDSKBENT

This call sets an entry in one of the translation tables.
It uses the same structure as the KDGKBENT ioctl,
but with the third field filled in
with the value that should be placed in the translation table.
This can be used to partially or completely remap the keyboard.
This ioctl does not work for all keycodes.




The kd driver provides support for virtual terminals.
The console minor device,
/dev/vtmon,
provides virtual terminal key requests from the kd driver
to the process that has /dev/vtmon open.
Two ioctls are provided for virtual terminal support:




VT_GETSTATE

The VT_GETSTATE ioctl returns
global virtual terminal state information.
It returns the active virtual terminal in the v_active field,
and the number of active virtual terminals
and a bit mask of the global state in the v_state open field,
where bit x is the state of vt x
(1 indicates that the virtual terminal is open).


VT_SENDSIG

The VT_SENDSIG ioctl specifies a
signal (in v_signal)
to be sent to a bit mask of virtual terminals
(in v_state).




The data structure used by
the VT_GETSTATE and VT_SENDSIG ioctls is:

struct vt_stat {
     ushort v_active;  /* active vt */
     ushort v_signal;  /* signal to send (VT_SENDSIG) */
     ushort v_state;   /* vt bit mask
                       (VT_SENDSIG and VT_GETSTATE) */
};


and is defined in
/usr/include/sys/vt.h .


VT_OPENNRY

The VT_OPENQRY ioctl is used
to get the next available virtual terminal.
It inquires if this vt is already open.
This value is set in the last argument of the
ioctl (2)
call.


GIO_KEYMAP

This call gets the entire keyboard mapping table from the kernel.
The structure
of the argument is given in /usr/include/sys/kd.h.


PIO_KEYMAP

This call sets the entire keyboard mapping table.
The structure
of the argument is given in /usr/include/sys/kd.h.


GIO_STRMAP

This call gets the function key string mapping table from the kernel.
The structure
of the argument is given in /usr/include/sys/kd.h.


PIO_STRMAP

This call sets the function key string mapping table.
The structure
of the argument is given in /usr/include/sys/kd.h.


TIOCKBOF

Extended character codes are disabled.
This is the default mode.


TIOCKBON

Allows extended characters to be transmitted to the user program
when the extended keys are enabled.
Then the keyboard is said to be fully enabled.
The extended characters are transmitted as a null byte followed
by a second byte containing the character's extended code.
When a true null byte is sent, it is transmitted as two
consecutive null bytes.




When the keyboard is fully enabled, an
8-bit character code can be obtained by holding down the
<Alt> key and entering the 3-digit decimal value of the character
from the numeric keypad.
The character is transmitted when the <Alt> key is released.


Some keyboard characters have special meaning.
Under default operations, pressing the
<Del> key generates an interrupt signal that is sent to all
processes designated with the associated control terminal.
When the keyboard is fully enabled,
holding down the <Alt> key
and pressing the 8 key on the home keyboard (not on the
numeric keypad) returns a null byte followed by 0x7F.
This will produce the same effect as the <Del> key (0x7F)
unless you have executed the
stty(C)
command with the
-isig
option.




KBENABLED

If the keyboard is fully enabled (TIOCKBON), a
non-zero value will be returned.
If the keyboard is not
fully enabled (TIOCKBOF), a value of zero will be
returned.


GETFKEY

Obtains the current definition of a function key.
The argument to the call
is the address of one of the following structures defined in
/usr/include/sys/kd.h:

   struct fkeyarg {
        unsigned short keynum;
        unchar keydef [MAXFK]; /* from ioctl.h via comcrt.h */
        char   flen;
   };




The function key number must be passed in
keynum
(see
arg
structure above).
The string currently assigned to the key will be returned in
keydef
and the length of the string will be returned in
flen
when the ioctl is performed.


SETFKEY

Assigns a given string to a function key.
It uses the same structure as
the GETFKEY ioctl.
The function key
number must be passed in
keynum,
the string must be passed in
keydef,
and the length of the string (number of characters) must be
passed in
flen.



Files


   /dev/console
   /dev/vt00-n
   /usr/include/sys/kd.h



References

ascii(M),
console(HW),
display(HW),
ioctl(S),
mapkey(ADM),
stty(C),
termio(HW),
vtlmgr(C)

Notices

The autoreboot caused by pressing the sequence <Ctrl>-<Alt>-<Del> is tunable.
The tunable is in space.c for kd, the keyboard driver.





© 2005 The SCO Group, Inc.  All rights reserved.


SCO OpenServer Release 6.0.0 - 02 June 2005