termcap str + params -> control seq. How?

[mike gerard]

>At least according to the SunOS 4.0.3 TERMCAP(5) manual page, and the
>4.3-tahoe TERMCAP(5) manual page, the "RI" capability takes a single
>numeric parameter, and moves the cursor right that many positions -
>i.e., there's *already* a capability of the sort you wanted, but with a
>name *other* than the one you chose.

Well, it does not appear in the parameters that my Ultrix system shows
with man 5 termcap. There IS something called ch, which might or might
be the same thing. However, the description does NOT specify "right"
and the few entries in the /etc/termcap file are rather wierd and clearly
not for standard ASCII terminals. I am delighted to know that there is
some sort of standard for this sequence.

>Unfortunately, given that there's no single place that specifies what
>the complete set of valid capabilities (at least for any given OS
>release) are, it's easy for people to add them, ignorant of the fact
>that some programs might accept some *other* name for the same
>capability.  The fact that every Tom, Dick, and Harriet can "add" new
>capabilities to "termcap" isn't an unmixed blessing....

It so happens that I am using these new inventions on systems over which
I have total control: no-one logs in on them, though many people use them.
The program that I distribute will also run if they are not defined.

>("terminfo", of course, already has an equivalent capability, namely
>"cuf".)

But terminfo has nothing in there for switching between 80-column and
132-column mode (useful when emulating an IBM 3278-5): what would you
suggest that I do there?

I could also do with a sequence to set the cursor type (block/underline,
blinking/unblinking).

Doubtless other people have other ideas and needs: what should we all do
if we only have terminfo?
-- 
 _ _  o |            __                    |    jmg at cernvax.uucp
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| | | | |_)  /_)    |  __/_) | (___\ | (_/ |  J. M. Gerard, Div. DD, CERN,
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