SETMETAMODE

setmetamode ? define the keyboard meta key handling

setmetamode [ meta|bit|metabit | esc|prefix|escprefix ]

Without argument, setmetamode prints the current Meta key mode. With argument, it sets the Meta key mode as indicated. The setting before and after the change are reported.

The Meta key mode is specific for each VT (and the VT corresponding to stdin is used).

esc prefix escprefix

The Meta key sends an Escape prefix.

meta bit metabit

The Meta key sets the high order bit of the character.

One might use setmetamode in an /etc/rc script to define the initial state of the Meta key mode, e.g. by

INITTY=/dev/tty[1?8]
for tty in $INITTY; do

setmetamode escprefix < $tty

done

loadkeys(1).