Certain shortcuts not binding

[elfalem]

When configuring a StatusBar, I noticed that certain shortcut keys are not working when pressed. Using the following code, I got these results: keys ctrl + I, ctrl + J, and ctrl + M don't work with either drivers. ctrl + H works with ncurses but not SystemConsole. Other letters of the alphabet work with both drivers.

I have a standard full US keyboard and I don't think I have anything else binding to those keys. I'm using bash terminal on Linux Mint 19.3. Am I missing something or is there a bug?

static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            //Application.UseSystemConsole = true;
            Application.Init();

            var statusBar = new StatusBar (new StatusItem [] {
                new StatusItem(Key.CtrlMask | Key.A, "A", () => throw new Exception("A pressed")),
                new StatusItem(Key.CtrlMask | Key.B, "B", () => throw new Exception("B pressed")),
                new StatusItem(Key.CtrlMask | Key.C, "C", () => throw new Exception("C pressed")),
                new StatusItem(Key.CtrlMask | Key.D, "D", () => throw new Exception("D pressed")),
                new StatusItem(Key.CtrlMask | Key.E, "E", () => throw new Exception("E pressed")),
                new StatusItem(Key.CtrlMask | Key.F, "F", () => throw new Exception("F pressed")),
                new StatusItem(Key.CtrlMask | Key.G, "G", () => throw new Exception("G pressed")),
                new StatusItem(Key.CtrlMask | Key.H, "H", () => throw new Exception("H pressed")), // not working in SystemConsole, worked with ncurses
                new StatusItem(Key.CtrlMask | Key.I, "I", () => throw new Exception("I pressed")), // not working in both
                new StatusItem(Key.CtrlMask | Key.J, "J", () => throw new Exception("J pressed")), // not working in both
                new StatusItem(Key.CtrlMask | Key.K, "K", () => throw new Exception("K pressed")),
                new StatusItem(Key.CtrlMask | Key.L, "L", () => throw new Exception("L pressed")),
                new StatusItem(Key.CtrlMask | Key.M, "M", () => throw new Exception("M pressed")), // not working in both
                new StatusItem(Key.CtrlMask | Key.N, "N", () => throw new Exception("N pressed")),
                new StatusItem(Key.CtrlMask | Key.O, "O", () => throw new Exception("O pressed")),
                new StatusItem(Key.CtrlMask | Key.P, "P", () => throw new Exception("P pressed")),
                new StatusItem(Key.CtrlMask | Key.Q, "Q", () => { Application.RequestStop(); }),
                new StatusItem(Key.CtrlMask | Key.R, "R", () => throw new Exception("R pressed")),
                new StatusItem(Key.CtrlMask | Key.S, "S", () => throw new Exception("S pressed")),
                new StatusItem(Key.CtrlMask | Key.T, "T", () => throw new Exception("T pressed")),
                new StatusItem(Key.CtrlMask | Key.U, "U", () => throw new Exception("U pressed")),
                new StatusItem(Key.CtrlMask | Key.V, "V", () => throw new Exception("V pressed")),
                new StatusItem(Key.CtrlMask | Key.W, "W", () => throw new Exception("W pressed")),
                new StatusItem(Key.CtrlMask | Key.X, "X", () => throw new Exception("X pressed")),
                new StatusItem(Key.CtrlMask | Key.Y, "Y", () => throw new Exception("Y pressed")),
                new StatusItem(Key.CtrlMask | Key.Z, "Z", () => throw new Exception("Z pressed")),                
            });

            Application.Top.Add(statusBar);

            try
            {
                try
                {
                    Application.Run();
                }
                finally
                {
                    Application.Shutdown();
                }
            }
            catch(Exception e)
            {
                Console.WriteLine(e);
            }   
        }

[tznind]

Thanks for your detailed code sample. Some shortcut combinations are not supported by the terminal. A great summary of why this is is here:

https://unix.stackexchange.com/a/213851

Similarly Ctrl+H sends backspace on some terminals:
https://unix.stackexchange.com/a/327955

You could try different consoles or just avoid those combinations. Are there any other TUI applications you use (e.g. nano) that have bindings for those key combinations?

[elfalem]

That explains it, thanks!

Using nano, I do see that Ctrl + I is tab, Ctrl + M is carriage return, and as you mentioned Ctrl + H is backspace. Interestingly Ctrl + J is detected (and bound to "Justify" function). I'll just avoid those combinations.