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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: xwhatsit on Mon, 23 August 2010, 01:05:23

Title: Rule Home key
Post by: xwhatsit on Mon, 23 August 2010, 01:05:23

OK, thanks to you helpful folk I now have my brand-new 122-key Model M (3270 layout, Unicomp's standard Terminal model) up and running -- by the way, the sticker on the bottom says 8/17/2010 -- neat :)).

Under Linux the Rule Home key is mapped to a Home by default. I mapped shift+Home to "3270_Rule", which is actually a valid keysym in Linux (well, X11).

So what was it actually supposed to do? Any old bearded mainframe refugees here? I'd love to know what all the other random "Attn", "Clear", "CrSel" keys etc. were for too.

Title: Rule Home key
Post by: netwebber on Mon, 23 August 2010, 17:34:57

The Rule Home key makes you the master of your domain.

Title: Rule Home key
Post by: netwebber on Mon, 23 August 2010, 17:56:17

Quote from: kishy;215946

I believe you have a win a contest to be crowned Master of your Domain.

Of course. It's the opposite of this keyboard:

(http://www.flatrock.org.nz/topics/info_and_tech/assets/music_porn.jpg)

Title: Rule Home key
Post by: quadibloc on Tue, 24 August 2010, 15:18:40

There are some manuals on the original 3277 Display Station here:

http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/ibm/3270/

but they won't answer all your questions.

Title: Rule Home key
Post by: ch_123 on Tue, 24 August 2010, 15:44:28

Wasn't there some line drawing functionality on those 3270s?

Title: Rule Home key
Post by: Shawn Stanford on Wed, 25 August 2010, 08:08:25

I don't recall the 'Rule/Home' keying being part of the mainframe setup. I think it's an AS400 key.

Wait... On second thought: there was a key that would display a big nasty crosshair (vertical and horizontal 'rule' lines). I never used it, but that might be what it did.

Title: Rule Home key
Post by: ch_123 on Wed, 25 August 2010, 11:40:01

Quote from: quadibloc;216181

There are some manuals on the original 3277 Display Station here:

http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/ibm/3270/

but they won't answer all your questions.

That was a great link, thanks!