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pythonpython-idlebackspaceordinals

Shift+Backspace is Writing a Checkmark Symbol?

I can't even copy and paste a strange checkmark looking character from my IDLE interpreter session into this text field...I am running Linux Mint Julia, python version 2.6, but it also happens in 3.1. This occurs after holding the shift key and pressing backspace.

I tried doing this:

>>> ord('[strange-checkmark]')
8

Then running the reverse:

>>> chr(8)
\x08'

I'd really like to get this strange character to stop printing, and just delete the previous character instead.

I tried to recreate this character in gedit, terminal, and chrome. No luck. Searching for a ASCII chart of ordinal values calls this character backspace.

Here's an image from my session:

A demonstration of printing the checkmark character, then passing it into the function ord()

Solution

  • It's a confirmed bug within Tkinter, and not necessarily IDLE. See Issue 1482122.

    In brief: If you want to fix it, you're welcome to try xmodmap -e "keycode 22 = BackSpace", but you run the risk of no longer being able to issue a Ctrl+Alt+Backspace to kill your X Server.

    I can keep looking for more information into the bug; I'm not sure if the folks working on Tkinter have resolved this yet.

    EDIT: Confirmed second source on issue - See Linux%Shift-Backspace on the Tkinter Wiki