Re: kbd_quit and set_abort_char

["John E. Davis" <davis>]

Guenter Milde <G.Milde@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>What is the difference between 
>
>    set_abort_char(7);   % ^G = Abort Char
>
>and 
>
>    setkey ("kbd_quit", "^G");
>
>? Which option is preferred?

Terminal input is handled in two layers: a system-dependent low-level
layer, and a higher level system-independent layer.  The "setkey"
function operates on the system-independent layer and the
"set_abort_char" function affects the low-level layer.

One can think of the lower-level layer as operating asynchronously as
far as the abort character is concerned.  The asynchronous nature of
this layer permits slang code such as:

     while (1);

to be interrupted by pressing the "Abort Character".  A key attached
to the "kbd_quit" function will not interrupt such constructs.  For
this reason, the abort character is preferred.

Currently, there is no mechanism in place to get the abort character.

--John


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