Changes: Backspace key using puTTY to RH9 box

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Tip 495 Printable Monobook Previous Next

created 2003 · complexity basic · author Tom Kompare · version 6.0

This page is dodgy. The contents may not be useful for Vim 7. If you think this tip is useful, please edit it to make the problem and its solution more understandable, and remove the {{Dodgy}} tag.

Most likely, backspace problems are actually caused by user settings. We should emphasize this in the tip text. But, sometimes there is really an underlying problem. The solution below worked at one point...it probably still applies.

I connect to a RedHat9 server via the free software PuTTY from a Windows computer. On the shell (tcsh), the Backspace key was working as it should, but in Vim it was not. No matter what I did in vimrc, it always acted like a Delete key. Very annoying.

I've discovered that one must use the keyboard setting of "linux" in the PuTTY settings in order for the Backspace key to work properly in Vim. The Linux keyboard is not the default. If one does not do this, Vim always is sent the Delete key command when pressing on the Backspace.

Comments[]

If you use dtelnet (dave's telnet) to RH 7.3, and 8.0, same problem appears, not only in Vim, but throughout the session. Choosing term=linux from the menu helps you there also.

The key thing here is changing the string that PuTTY sends to 'linux' from the default of 'xterm'. Doing this magically made everything work as it should.

I also had to change the PuTTY setting "The Backspace Key" to "Control-H" from "Control-?"

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 {{review}}
+{{TipImported
-{{Tip
 |id=495
+|previous=494
-|title=Backspace key using puTTY to RH9 box
+|next=498
-|created=June 26, 2003 9:10
+|created=2003
 |complexity=basic
 |author=Tom Kompare
-|version=5.7
+|version=6.0
 |rating=44/19
+|category1=Terminals
-|text=
+|category2=
-I connect to a RedHat9 server via the free software "puTTY" from a Windows computer. On the shell (tcsh), the &lt;Backspace&gt; was working as it should, but in VIM it was not. No matter what I did in the .vimrc file, it always acted like a &lt;Delete&gt; key. Very annoying.
-I've discovered that one must use the keyboard setting of "linux" in the puTTY settings in order for the &lt;Backspace&gt; key to work properly in VIM. The "linux" keyboard is not the default. If one does not do this, VIM always is sent the &lt;Delete&gt; key command when pressing on the &lt;Backspace&gt;.
 }}
+{{dodgy|Most likely, backspace problems are actually caused by [[Backspace and delete problems|user settings]]. We should emphasize this in the tip text. But, sometimes there is really an underlying problem. The solution below worked at one point...it probably still applies.}}
+I connect to a RedHat9 server via the free software PuTTY from a Windows computer. On the shell (tcsh), the Backspace key was working as it should, but in Vim it was not. No matter what I did in [[vimrc]], it always acted like a Delete key. Very annoying.
+I've discovered that one must use the keyboard setting of "linux" in the PuTTY settings in order for the Backspace key to work properly in Vim. The Linux keyboard is not the default. If one does not do this, Vim always is sent the Delete key command when pressing on the Backspace.
-== Comments ==
-If you use dtelnet (dave's telnet) to RH 7.3, and 8.0, same problem appears, not only in vim, but throughout the session. Choosing term=linux from the menu helps you there also.
-omanakuttan(at)tataelxsi(dot)co(dot)in(nospam)
-, June 28, 2003 5:50
-----
-The key thing here is changing the string that PuTTy sends to 'linux' from the default of 'xterm'
-Doing this magically made everything work as it should.
-lmasterson at hcocntf dot org
-, July 22, 2003 7:36
-----
-This tip saved me a ton of time I'm sure. I also had to change the Putty setting "The Backspace Key" to "Control-H" from "Control-?"
-Joel Auernheimer
-http://www.SERVICEandINTEGRITY.com
+==Comments==
+If you use dtelnet (dave's telnet) to RH 7.3, and 8.0, same problem appears, not only in Vim, but throughout the session. Choosing term=linux from the menu helps you there also.
-ja21--AT--cox.net
-, February 12, 2006 14:53
 ----
+The key thing here is changing the string that PuTTY sends to 'linux' from the default of 'xterm'. Doing this magically made everything work as it should.
-Thanks a ton this helped me get rid of annoying backspace problem. I have changed my putting setting for backspace to Ctrl-h from Ctrl-?
-jayrajput--AT--gmail.com
-, September 9, 2006 5:10
 ----
+I also had to change the PuTTY setting "The Backspace Key" to "Control-H" from "Control-?"
-Thanks, this tip was extremely useful.
-jprintz--AT--ksu.edu
-, September 12, 2006 20:59
 ----
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