Debian bug report logs - #1314
ncurses fails in silly way on TERM=dumb

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From cus.cam.ac.uk!iwj10 Thu Sep  7 05:16:00 1995
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From: Ian Jackson <iwj10@cus.cam.ac.uk>
To: debian-bugs@Pixar.com
Subject: Re: Bug#1314: ncurses fails in silly way on TERM=dumb 
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	<m0sq8Fj-000EKcC@mongo.pixar.com>

Bruce Perens writes ("Re: Bug#1314: ncurses fails in silly way on TERM=dumb "):
> This may still be a documentation bug, but here's how to perform the test:
> 
> To test if a terminal has cursor addressing:
> 	char * s;
> 	if ( (s = tigetstr("cup")) != 0 && *s != 0 )
> 		/* Terminal has cursor addressing */
> 
> This is usually sufficient to weed out the dumb terminals and hardcopy
> devices. If your program depends on standout, you can add a similar test
> for that capability.

Thanks.  I'll include this in 0.93.73.

Ian.

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From pixar.com!bruce Tue Sep  5 17:23:13 1995
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To: Ian Jackson <iwj10@cus.cam.ac.uk>,
        Bill Mitchell <mitchell@mdd.comm.mot.com>, debian-bugs@Pixar.com
Cc: bruce@Pixar.com
Subject: Re: Bug#1314: ncurses fails in silly way on TERM=dumb 
In-Reply-To: Your message of "Tue, 05 Sep 1995 21:41:00 PDT."
             <m0sq4nt-0002YOA@chiark.al.cl.cam.ac.uk> 
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Date: Tue, 05 Sep 1995 17:22:07 -0700
From: Bruce Perens <bruce@Pixar.com>

This may still be a documentation bug, but here's how to perform the test:

To test if a terminal has cursor addressing:
	char * s;
	if ( (s = tigetstr("cup")) != 0 && *s != 0 )
		/* Terminal has cursor addressing */

This is usually sufficient to weed out the dumb terminals and hardcopy
devices. If your program depends on standout, you can add a similar test
for that capability.

	Thanks

	Bruce

--
-- Attention Radio Amateurs: For information on "Linux for Hams",
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Date: Tue, 5 Sep 95 21:41 BST
From: Ian Jackson <iwj10@cus.cam.ac.uk>
To: Debian bugs submission address <debian-bugs@pixar.com>
Reply-To: Ian Jackson <iwj10@cus.cam.ac.uk>,
        Bill Mitchell <mitchell@mdd.comm.mot.com>
Cc: Bill Mitchell <mitchell@mdd.comm.mot.com>
Subject: ncurses fails in silly way on TERM=dumb
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Package: ncurses-developer
Version: 1.9.3-1

chiark:~> TERM=dumb dselect
Debian GNU/Linux `dselect' package handling frontend.  * 0. [A]ccess      Choose the access method to use.                              1. [U]pdate      Update list of available packages, if possible.   2. [S]elect      Select which packages to install (or deinstall).   3. [I]nstall     Install selected software.   4. [C]onfig      Configure packages that are unconfigured.   5. [R]emove      Remove software selected for deinstallation.   6. [Q]uit        Quit dselect. Use ^P and ^N, cursor keys, initial letters, or digits to select;Press ENTER to confirm selection.   ^L to redraw screen. Version 0.93.72.  Copyright (C) 1994,1995 Ian Jackson.   This isfree software; see the GNU General Public Licence version 2 or later forcopying conditions.  There is NO warranty.  See dselect --licence for details.                        0. [A]ccess      Choose the access method to use.                            * 6. [Q]uit        Quit dselect.                                                                                 
                                       chiark:~> 

As you can see, no terminal movement strings were sent, however
ncurses doesn't appear to have given any indication to dselect that
things weren't proceeding appropriately.

The ncurses manpages don't appear to document the need to make a
special `powerful-enough' check call.

Ian.