BUG: CTRL+NUM/ May Be Read as CTRL+/ in MS-DOS with NUM LOCK On

ID: Q66740

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Programmer's Workbench for MS-DOS, versions 1.0, 1.1
Microsoft Programmer's Workbench for OS/2, versions 1.0, 1.1

SYMPTOMS

In the Programmer's WorkBench (PWB) versions 1.0 and 1.1, the CTRL+NUM/ (CTRL+/ on the numeric keypad) and ALT+NUM/ (ALT+/ on the numeric keypad) combinations may be interpreted as CTRL+/ and ALT+/ (on the main keyboard). This problem happens only in DOS or in the DOS 3.x box of OS/2, and only on certain computers. This behavior will cause any macro or function assigned to CTRL+NUM/ or ALT+NUM/ to not execute when NUM LOCK is on.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in PWB version 1.0 and 1.1. We are researching this problem and will post new information here as it becomes available.

MORE INFORMATION

To reproduce this problem, assign a function or macro to CTRL+NUM/. Then run the TELL function (CTRL+T by default) and press CTRL+NUM/. The TELL function prompts for a keystroke, then displays the name of the keystroke and the function assigned to it. With NUM LOCK on, TELL will return the following:

unassigned:Ctrl+/

With NUM LOCK off, TELL will return the following:

<function name>:Ctrl+num/

This behavior is identical for the ALT+NUM/ key name, but works properly for all other key names on the numeric keypad.

If NUM LOCK is off, or if the protected-mode version of PWB is run, this behavior does not occur.

This behavior has been observed on the following machines:

Northgate 386-33
PS/2 Model 70
PS/2 Model 80-311

Additional query words: 1.00 1.10 buglist1.00 buglist1.10

Keywords : kb16bitonly
Version : MS-DOS:1.0,1.1; OS/2:1.0,1.1
Platform : MS-DOS OS/2
Issue type :