2.1.1 Representing Keystrokes

SXEmacs represents keystrokes as lists. Each list consists of an arbitrary combination of modifiers followed by a single keysym at the end of the list. If the keysym corresponds to an ASCII character, you can use its character code. (A keystroke may also be represented by an event object, as returned by the read-key-sequence function; non-programmers need not worry about this.)

The following table gives some examples of how to list representations for keystrokes. Each list consists of sets of modifiers followed by keysyms:

(control a)

Pressing CTRL and a simultaneously.

(control ?a)

Another way of writing the keystroke C-a.

(control 65)

Yet another way of writing the keystroke C-a.

(break)

Pressing the BREAK key.

(control meta button2up)

Release the middle mouse button, while pressing CTRL and META.

Note: As you define keystrokes, you can use the shift key only as a modifier with characters that do not have a second keysym on the same key, such as backspace and tab. It is an error to define a keystroke using the shift modifier with keysyms such as a and =. The correct forms are A and +.