I have an openvpn configuration directory containing a few config files. 100.1.2.1.ovpn
100.1.2.2.ovpn
100.1.2.3.ovpn

When I doubleclick on that 100.1.2.3.ovpn text file, I get connected to the specified VPN server (here exemplified by 100.1.2.3) which works real nice.

Doubleclicking runs the openvpn client due to Windows file associations.
The resulting command window description says something like this
(look at the F4 entry).

[C:\openvpn\config\100.1.2.3.ovpn OpenVPN 2.5.8 F4:EXIT F1:USR1 F3:HUP]

All that works real nice.

But if I exit that VPN session any other way than to hit the F4 keyboard
key, it sometimes (but not always) hangs up and gets stuck in a sad state.

What's the magic of the F4 Windows keyboard key?

The reason I care is it's hard to find that F4 key sometimes and I'd rather find an alternative way of killing the openvpn session without having to
hunt and peck for the specific F4 key (which is harder to hit on laptops).
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On 3/22/2023 10:27 PM, Michael wrote:

I have an openvpn configuration directory containing a few config files. 100.1.2.1.ovpn
100.1.2.2.ovpn
100.1.2.3.ovpn

When I doubleclick on that 100.1.2.3.ovpn text file, I get connected to the specified VPN server (here exemplified by 100.1.2.3) which works real nice.

Doubleclicking runs the openvpn client due to Windows file associations.
The resulting command window description says something like this
(look at the F4 entry).

[C:\openvpn\config\100.1.2.3.ovpn OpenVPN 2.5.8 F4:EXIT F1:USR1 F3:HUP]

All that works real nice.

But if I exit that VPN session any other way than to hit the F4 keyboard
key, it sometimes (but not always) hangs up and gets stuck in a sad state.

What's the magic of the F4 Windows keyboard key?

The reason I care is it's hard to find that F4 key sometimes and I'd rather find an alternative way of killing the openvpn session without having to
hunt and peck for the specific F4 key (which is harder to hit on laptops).

Keyboards mechanically, don't have a particular bias.

Most of the keys are in a matrix. 7x17 perhaps. 24 wires.
One direction are senders. The other direction are receivers.
That's enough for 119 keys.

In addition, the modifier keys are "private" and each gets
its own signal. It is not on the matrix. Ctrl, alt, shift,
might get separate wires. (These are things I learned when
I built my own keyboard, in the 80's.)

When a matrix contact is closed, the keyboard waits three
scan cycles, before declaring "he really did press the key".
This is the debounce interval, that takes the springy bounce
in the electrical contacts into account.

If the matrix pair is depressed for too long, it can cause
the auto-repeat sequence.

*******

Windows, uses alt-F4.

If you click within a program window, and press alt-F4,
that causes an exit from the program.

If you click on the desktop surface, and press alt-F4,
the shutdown menu is presented. This is real handy, when
a Windows "improvement", causes the shutdown controls
in some menu to fail to show up. The alt-F4 method
always seems to work.

Thus, we can conclude from this, that the program developer
sees that Windows does that with alt-F4, so the developer
decides that a "naked F4" will be the exit key.

That is the only significance. Imitation.

The F4 key can have other functions bound to it,
like on a laptop you may find additional control symbols
bound to the keys.

Paul


Paul

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On Wed, 22 Mar 2023 23:18:46 -0400, Paul wrote:

Thus, we can conclude from this, that the program developer
sees that Windows does that with alt-F4, so the developer
decides that a "naked F4" will be the exit key.

That is the only significance. Imitation.

Do you think I can map the F4 key (which I don't use for anything else) to
a key that I can more easily use (especially on the smaller laptops and especially at night because my small laptop has no lights in the keys)?

I've tried other keys, like F3 and control+c which work to some extent but which often hang up. I saw people asked the same question on the openvpn
forum and the developers were snotty (imho) telling them what's the problem with using the F4 key. Get over it.

Otherwise, I guess I just have to get over it but at night on an unlit
keyboard (and especially laptops which require fn first) it's harder.
--
[I filter out Google Groups posts so if I don't reply, that may be why.]

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On 23.03.2023 05:12, Michael wrote:

Otherwise, I guess I just have to get over it but at night on an unlit keyboard (and especially laptops which require fn first) it's harder.

Why not use a hardware hack: just a drop of glue on the F4 key so
you can "feel" the key even in darkness.



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On 3/23/23 00:12, this is what Michael wrote:

On Wed, 22 Mar 2023 23:18:46 -0400, Paul wrote:

Thus, we can conclude from this, that the program developer
sees that Windows does that with alt-F4, so the developer
decides that a "naked F4" will be the exit key.

That is the only significance. Imitation.

Do you think I can map the F4 key (which I don't use for anything else) to
a key that I can more easily use (especially on the smaller laptops and especially at night because my small laptop has no lights in the keys)?

I've tried other keys, like F3 and control+c which work to some extent but which often hang up. I saw people asked the same question on the openvpn forum and the developers were snotty (imho) telling them what's the problem with using the F4 key. Get over it.

Otherwise, I guess I just have to get over it but at night on an unlit keyboard (and especially laptops which require fn first) it's harder.

There are usb clip on lights that you can get for a laptop. https://www.amazon.com/i2-Gear-Dimmable-Flexible-Gooseneck/dp/B0BSG8ZTGS
Just one of may diff styles. Some even change colors & dim.
--
Al


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On Wed, 22 Mar 2023 22:12:59 -0600, Michael wrote:

Do you think I can map the F4 key (which I don't use for anything else) to
a key that I can more easily use (especially on the smaller laptops and especially at night because my small laptop has no lights in the keys)?

But of course. The free and well-regarded Autohotkey will do that.

https://www.autohotkey.com/

--
Stan Brown, Tehachapi, California, USA https://BrownMath.com/
Shikata ga nai...

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Michael <michael@spamcop.com> posted this via news:tvgdei$7a6$1 @nnrp.usenet.blueworldhosting.com:

What's the magic of the F4 Windows keyboard key?

They had to put something on the key between F3 and F5, so after years of collaberation, government approval processes, appropriate licensing, and numberous polls, they decided to go with F4.

The people who got the Nobel Prize for that probably did not credit all the dedicated specialists who contributed to the development of the concept, but all of humanity has benefited greatly from their diligent efforts. Their families and ancestors should be very proud of their contributions to the advancement of all mankind.

--

I AM Bucky Breeder, (*(^;

And *NO*, that is *NOT* a Jedi Light Saber I have in my pocket!

But that doesn't necessarily mean I'm happy to see you either.

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