Arch Linux

josh000

Member

Registered: 2010-04-05

Posts: 37

URXVT and backspace

I have a problem with backspace in URXVT. This happens when using zsh, but it may happen in any shell as well

Basically, certain times when I wish to change a command and use backspace to remove part of it, artifacts will be left behind, and the cursor will not be where I expect meaning I type something I did not intend to.

I have not been able to find any information on this, except a two post thread on the mailing list in September 09, where the author says urxvt is behaving exactly as it should. other terminals don't have this problem, so that doesn't seem quite right, although I am not even sure if that was the same problem as I am having.

I have screenshots which hopefully show what I mean here:

Last edited by josh000 (2010-05-02 01:50:18)

josh000

Member

Registered: 2010-04-05

Posts: 37

Re: URXVT and backspace

OK, I think I have isolated this, it only occurs if i write past the end of a line onto a new line....

Does no one else experience this?

josh000

Member

Registered: 2010-04-05

Posts: 37

Re: URXVT and backspace

OK, I have narrowed this down to a zsh problem with the interactive shell.

Using a zsh interactive shell on a VT also has glitches, but not as bad.

Any ideas on what this is?

Ogion

Member

From: Germany

Registered: 2007-12-11

Posts: 367

Re: URXVT and backspace

For me urxvt+zsh works perfectly fine. Maybe copy your .zshrc somewhere else and use a vanilla zsh and see if the problem still occurs.

Ogion

---

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Mr.Elendig

#archlinux@freenode channel op

From: The intertubes

Registered: 2004-11-07

Posts: 4,092

Re: URXVT and backspace

bindkey '^?' backward-delete-char

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Evil #archlinux@libera.chat channel op and general support dude.
. files on github, Screenshots, Random pics and the rest

ddaedalus

Member

Registered: 2008-01-14

Posts: 54

Re: URXVT and backspace

OK, I have narrowed this down to a zsh problem with the interactive shell.

Bash, while writing past current line. Same problem. I don't thing its a problem with only zsh and urxvt.

Profjim

Member

From: NYC

Registered: 2008-03-24

Posts: 658

Re: URXVT and backspace

Do you have any non-printing chars in your PS1?

ddaedalus

Member

Registered: 2008-01-14

Posts: 54

Re: URXVT and backspace

Nope, i didn't even change my PS1 :S

Mr.Elendig

#archlinux@freenode channel op

From: The intertubes

Registered: 2004-11-07

Posts: 4,092

Re: URXVT and backspace

See what I wrote in my previous posts. The line is for zsh, but you can do something similar in bash by using ~/.inputrc  (the syntax is sligthy different tho)

Edit:
for bash:
"\e[3~": delete-char
#or
"\C-?": delete-char

Edit2:
This ofcourse requires the TERM to be set correctly. It should be rxvt-unicode or rxvt-256color  depending on if you used the patched version or not.

Last edited by Mr.Elendig (2010-05-05 10:40:02)

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Evil #archlinux@libera.chat channel op and general support dude.
. files on github, Screenshots, Random pics and the rest

ddaedalus

Member

Registered: 2008-01-14

Posts: 54

Re: URXVT and backspace

Both values are set correctly.

Since this behaviour is rather erratic, i assume that it is a bug in rxvt or bash. Not a configuration issue.

OTOH it does not really bother me. Still thx for your help