Terminal description files are created as plaintext files in a special format which is then compiled into binary by the program "tic", the terminfo compiler. (Details can be found in the respective operating system manuals on "terminfo" and "tic".) The "curses" routines only access compiled files.
To ease the creation (or modification) of a terminal description for use by ADABAS, a special tool "x_maketi" is provided.
This tool takes an existing (binary) description as source file and modifies the keyboard description part by interactively adding or changing definitions of function keys: the other data describing the terminal (number of rows and columns, cursor control commands, timing delays etc.) required by ADABAS are not modified.
After calling "x_maketi", a list of functions is displayed. Adding a function key or changing the function of a function key is done by selecting the function and pressing the key this function is to be assigned to. The user can also erase definitions. The result is a plaintext description to be translated by means of the program "tic".
The (original or resulting) (binary) description can be checked by the tool "xvttest" which displays the functions defined in the terminal description for the pressed keys.