CompuServe Messages

Dave: I guess I don't understand your assertion that CIS requires a "BS" character to erase the previous character. When I want to erase the character I've just typed I always hit the key above "Return" labeled with an "X" inside a pentagonal "arrow" outline pointing to the left. I believe that is the one you call RUBOUT, or at least equivalent to it. My "Rainbow Owner's Manual" calls it the "delete" key. I assume, but have not checked, that it generates the ASCII "DEL" character (octal 177), and that LCTERM sends that character to Compuserve. It has the effect of erasing the last character I typed. But what Compuserve sends back is: a backslash, then the character being erased from the input stream. If I continue "deleting" characters, the erased characters continue to be echoed in reverse order as they are erased. A second backslash ("\") is sent back when I stop deleting and start typing again. For example, if I type "go mail<DEL><DEL><DEL><DEL>charges" in response to a "Messages !" prompt, what appears on my screen is Messages !go mail\liam\charges and Compuserve takes me to the CHARGES area. I haven't tried putting a "DEL" character in a script file, but now that I know LCTERM will send a Control-C in a script file I wouldn't be surprised if it will send a "DEL" too. But why would I want to? My keyboard has a "(BS)" label on the F12 key, but I don't think it sends the ASCII "BS" character (octal 10). When I have to send a "BS" (for example to erase a character in a command sent to my modem) I type Control-H. LCTERM sends it just fine. I can't see why an ASCII character with the name "DEL" shouldn't serve to "erase" previously typed characters. What else can it do? ASCII "BS", on the other hand, can be used to back up and overstrike on a hard copy. Why should it be given the additional (and incompatible) job of erasing characters? BFT