Ubuntu – When using `byobu` in a PuTTY session cannot create new windows

byobuputty

I have an Ubuntu 10.04.4 web server, and I have set it to run byobu on session startup.

To start with it all seems to work fine, for example F9 brings up the menu and F7 starts the copy/paste process.

When I connect to the server using PuTTY from my PC, the problem is that when I press F2 to create a new window, the screen just flashes, and no window is created.

I have tried setting PuTTY to use Xterm R6 in the function keys settings, as per the man page and mailing list, but have also tried using the default ESC[n~.

Best Answer

Since you are using 10.04 I'll assume you are still using the screen backend to byobu. You should also learn the screen shortcuts - at least the most important ones.

  1. Ctrl+ac == create new window
  2. Ctrl+ap == previous window
  3. Ctrl+an == next window
  4. Ctrl+aa == toggle between two windows
  5. Ctrl+a[number] == switch to window [number]
  6. Ctrl+ad == detach from session

There are various reasons why this may not work. And you will encounter more the more different programs you use.

For example the default byobu shortcuts block out the ones in Midnight Commander (various F-keys), but you can use Alt+[number], e.g. Alt+1 replaces F1.

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