Bug 23876 - backspace does not delete
Summary: backspace does not delete
Keywords:
Status: CLOSED NOTABUG
Alias: None
Product: Red Hat Linux
Classification: Retired
Component: XFree86
Version: 7.0
Hardware: i686
OS: Linux
medium
high
Target Milestone: ---
Assignee: Mike A. Harris
QA Contact: David Lawrence
URL:
Whiteboard:
Depends On:
Blocks:
TreeView+ depends on / blocked
 
Reported: 2001-01-12 15:29 UTC by Need Real Name
Modified: 2007-04-18 16:30 UTC (History)
1 user (show)

Fixed In Version:
Clone Of:
Environment:
Last Closed: 2001-01-28 19:28:43 UTC
Embargoed:


Attachments (Terms of Use)

Description Need Real Name 2001-01-12 15:29:41 UTC
Hi, 
I'm having trouble getting backspace key to 
work as expected. In almost every application
I've tried, Control-H does the job
but how do I get backspace to map that way?

I'm assuming that I will need to set up my
.inputrc file and my .xinitrc file. 

I just don't know the commands to put into
those files to get this to work.
In addition, Control-H does not work in the 
StarOffice word processor.

	Thanks,

	Paul R. Behmen
	pbehmen

Comment 1 Bernhard Rosenkraenzer 2001-01-12 15:36:18 UTC
I can't reproduce this (without a .inputrc or anything other than exec startkde
in .xinitrc).
Does this happen only in X, or on the console as well?
Which keyboard layout are you using?
Did you modify /etc/inputrc?



Comment 2 Need Real Name 2001-01-12 16:03:45 UTC
The applications that I've seen this in are Netscape and StarOffice
word processor. In addition, the rxvt behaves similarly. In StarOffice
even control-H doesn't backspace and delete. In Netscape, control-H
performs the backspace and delete.

I'm running sawfish in gnome. In this netscape window that I'm typing
in (Xwindows-MOTIF, I assume) control-H does my backspace and
delete just fine. Pressing the backspace key doesn't do anything: the
cursor remains in the same spot. 
Here's my .inputrc that I was experimenting with:

"\C-?": delete-char
"\C-h": backward-delete-char

I got this off of redhat's site when I searched for backspace. It was in
the keyboard how-to section 5 . 
I tried the .xinitrc from that area but
it didn't work.  X would not start up because of problems with that 
.xinitrc file. Here's the .xinitrc that the keyboard how-to recommended:

xmodmap <<-EOF
keycode 22  =  BackSpace osfBackSpace
keycode107=Delete
EOF

#startyourwindowmanagerhere,forexample:
(fvwm)2>&1|tee/dev/tty/dev/console

sttysane
sttyerase^H
loadmap<<-EOF
keycode14=BackSpace
keycode111=Delete
EOF




Comment 3 Need Real Name 2001-01-12 17:04:56 UTC
No I did not alter /etc/.inputrc .

Comment 4 Need Real Name 2001-01-18 15:34:00 UTC
I added the /etc/.inputrc file and I still have a problem with backspace
performing delete.  Sorry for the delay in getting back.  I want backspace
to move the cursor one character to the left and erase the character it
moved over.
Summary: In "vi" called from an xterm window, backspace works.
In Netscape backspace doesn't work but control-h does the same function.
In StarOffice word processor, back space doesn't work and control-h doesn't
work either.
In emacs backspace doesn't work and control-h doesn't work either.
Help!

Comment 5 Bernhard Rosenkraenzer 2001-01-28 17:36:58 UTC
We still can't reproduce this, but your current description indicates a problem
with either your X setup or the XFree86 keytables.
Which keyboard layout are you using?

Comment 6 Bernhard Rosenkraenzer 2001-01-28 17:37:45 UTC
Reassigning to XFree86, that's where the keytables are.

Comment 7 Need Real Name 2001-01-28 19:28:39 UTC
1) I am currently using an IBM keyboard with the US
layout. 
2) What is a keytable, how do I access it? Are there 
descriptions of this in any of the manuals?
3) Why would XFree86 setup my resources this way?
Is this something I did during installation?
4) Sorry for the confusion, but from the last comment are
you saying that this problem is being reassigned to
XFree86? How do I contact them and is there a support
group/channel for them so I can resolve this problem?
Many, Many Thanks!

Comment 8 Mike A. Harris 2001-04-02 16:46:02 UTC
You mentioned above you added "/etc/.xinputrc".  The file is /etc/inputrc with
no dot.  If you make a personal inputrc in your home directory it should
be ~/.inputrc

I cannot reproduce any of the problem you are having so it must be a local
configuration issue I think.

You might want to try our mailing lists for configuration help.


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