menu on dumb terminals

[Klaus Reichl]

Hi Folks,

I've checked in my patch for menu & command list editing on dumb
terminals. 

CF: Subject: Making MENU on dumb terminals work 
    Date: Sat, 27 Jan 2001 09:57:38 -0800

We have tested it on console, VT terminals, dumb terminals and I
consider it stable (if there are problems, nobody knows ;-), let me
know). 

For all who don't know what this is for:

* Serial support is used for embedded/server machines without graphic
  cards where the console is connected to a serial cable to a
  terminal or terminal program on another computer.

  e.g. (connect COM1 = /dev/ttya with a serial line to a terminal)
  serial --unit=0
  terminal --timeout=0 serial 

  (see `help serial' resp. `help terminal')

* The default for serial assumes VT100 capabilities of the connected
  terminal for position queries and cursor positioning.

* Where VT100 capability can't be assumed (batch processing, emacs
  comint buffers, poor terminal emulations), the dumb terminal can be
  configured and NOW still use menu and command list selection and
  editing.

  terminal --dumb ...

Some ideas for future directions:

* terminal --query ...
  Check out terminal capabilities (see `qterm' for an example).

* GRUB shell: --batch
  Output of --batch is ugly, maybe the terminal dumb setting could be
  used for --batch to make it more natural.

* Fast selection of menu entries with keys (numbers as shortcuts?) - I
  remember discussions on the list about that already, it didn't make
  it to the mainstream, however.

* On line buffered terminals (e.g. emacs comint) it is rather tricky
  to operated the menu (typing a key followed by RET always may have a
  side effect, since GRUB interprets the KEY and the following RET).

* On really dumb terminals (e.g. emacs comint) not even ^H = BACKSPACE
  is supported, making the output rather ugly.

KR
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