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From: jeff@cjsa.com (Jeffery Small)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.sun.admin,comp.sys.sun.misc,comp.unix.solaris
Subject: Problem with NumLock and key repeat on Solaris 10
Date: Fri, 27 May 2011 08:16:45 GMT
Organization: CJSA LLC
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I have a SunFire SPARC system with a type 6 keyboard, running Solaris 10.

Quite often I find that the NumLock function has mysteriously attached
itself to one of the Left keys, typically the Paste, Undo or Props key. I
have no idea what operation causes this -- I usually just eventually notice
that the Num Lock light is on and then have to check to see which key has
acquired it.  At this point, the new random key toggles NumLock on/off
and I cannot clear it without a reboot.  Since I don't use the keypad for
numerical input, when I login I have my .profile call a script that remaps
these keys to known Function Key codes so that I can then remap them in my
.vimrc for editing use.  In that script I have the lines:

    ! Set Keypad Num Lock key:
    keycode  90 =   F30 F30 F30 F30
    ! Turn off Num_Lock (mod3) function
    clear mod3

This turns off NumLock altogether and makes the standard NumLock key
available for remapping.  This all works fine generally, until something
causes the NumLock function to get reassigned to another key and then it
starts playing havoc with my keypad remappings.

Does anyone know what might be causing this reassignment (so that it can be
avoided) and some simple fix to undo it short of a reboot?


Another problem that could possibly be related or unrelated is that the
keyboard repeat function occasionally gets mysteriously turned off.  It's
a pain when this happens and I've written a little script to reset it as
follows:

    # Set keyboard to generate input events required by the Xsun server.
    kbd_mode -u
    # Turn key repeat (back) on.
    xset r
    # Reset keyboard to power-on state
    kbd -r

I only mention this here as another possible clue as to what might also
be causing the NumLock problem.

Thanks for any insights you can offer.
--
C. Jeffery Small