Text mode key binding


  1.  Field navigation

  Graphical interface normally reserve the TAB key to jump from one
  field to the other. Linuxconf uses the TAB key in text mode to jump
  from the dialog area to the button area. Using the GUI strategy would
  not work very well: Having to "tab" your way to the "Accept" button of
  a 20 lines dialog is simply unacceptable. Oddly the GUI standard is
  not acceptable either, but the mouse is saving the day here.

  To move from one field to the next, you can use either the DOWN ARRAY
  or the ENTER key. To move to the previous field, use the UP ARROW


  2.  Help screens

  Most screens do have a help button. You can access this button using
  the TAB key or directly using the F1 function key.


  3.  Text fields

  Here are other key bindings used in Linuxconf. They are also useful
  elsewhere notably when using the shell. Note that the normal "PC
  modern" keypad is supported (Home, End, PgDp, PgDn. Del, BkSp).


  +o  ctrl-A : Go to the beginning of the line.

  +o  ctrl-B : Move one character to the left

  +o  ctrl-D : Delete the current character by sliding the end of the
     line over it.

  +o  ctrl-E : Go to the end of the line.

  +o  ctrl-F : Move one character to the right

  +o  ctrl-K : Delete text up to the end of the line.



  4.  Selection list


  Some fields have a companion pop-up selection list. These fields are
  identified with a down pointing arrow at their right end. You can
  depress the cntl-X key (Control and X at the same time) to activate
  the pop-up. You can make a selection and either confirm it with the
  ENTER key or TAB your way to the Quit button.

  Press the function key F3 to escape from any dialog.


  5.  The textarea widget

  The textarea widget is special as it spans several lines. Further it
  may be used to edit text larger than the display. Key usage for text
  editor are a little incompatible with the key bindings for normal text
  mode dialogs. Using a text editor, one will happily use TAB, DOWN, UP,
  PAGE DOWN, PAGE UP and so on. Those keys are currently used for field
  to field navigation.


  Graphical interface normally reserve the TAB key to jump from one
  field to the other. Linuxconf uses the TAB key in text mode to jump
  from the dialog area to the button area. Using the GUI strategy would
  not work very well: Having to "tab" your way to the "Accept" button of
  a 20 lines dialog is simply unacceptable. Oddly the GUI standard is
  not acceptable either, but the mouse is saving the day here.

  The textarea widget in text mode is somewhat modal. In field mode the
  normal behavior or field navigation keys (TAB, DOWN, UP, ...)  is
  preserved. You must enter a white space on the field to trigger the
  edit mode. While in edit mode, all field navigation keys behave as one
  expect in a text editor. Hitting escape twice will bring you back to
  field navigation mode.

  Here are some key bindings specific to the textarea edit mode.  They
  can be used along normal key binding and are especially useful when
  the terminal emulation you are using is ineffective (like some broken
  telnet software).


  +o  ctrl-P: Move one line up. Like the UP arrow.

  +o  ctrl-N: Move one line down. Like the DOWN arrow.

  +o  ctrl-K: Erase from the cursor to the end of the line. The erased
     text is preserved in the yank buffer.

  +o  ctrl-Y: Insert the yank buffer at the current position.


  6.  Record browser

  Many lists are presented using multiple columns views. The first
  column is usually highlighted. This is the "sort" column. Using the
  plus and minus key, you can change the sort column. Using the space
  key, you can reverse the sort. Here are all the keys affecting these
  dialogs.


  +o  +: Use the next column as the sort key.

  +o  -: Use the previous column as the sort key.

  +o  space: Reverse the sort.

  +o  left arrow: scroll the view to the left.

  +o  right arrow: Scroll the view to the right.

  +o  page down: Jump one page down.

  +o  page up: Jump one page up.