@node Key, Label, Image, Commands

@iftex
@syntax Key.
@end iftex
@example
Syntax: KEY 
        KEY key string
@end example
@pindex Key

Define a key to generate a string. This is most often used simply to
save typing some common command such as @code{edit_hist}. With the
command KEY, you are prompted for the @code{key} to define, and the string.
Because you are not using the history editor when you type the key,
you can simply hit the key that you want defined, type a space, and
then type the string terminated by a carriage return. The other form,
where the whole command appears on one line, is probably more suitable
for use in a macro such as your private startup macro (see under @code{startup2} in the index). If you try entering it at the keyboard any special
characters in @code{key}, such as ESC, will be interpreted by the
history editor so you'll probably have to quote the @code{key} with
@ctrl{Q} or ESC-q. Alternatively you can use ^ and printing
characters , or octal numbers, to represent the escape characters in
the same way as for EDIT (@pxref{Edit}).
If @code{key} is given as @code{pf#} or
@code{PF#} (where @code{#} is 1, 2, 3, or 4) it will be interpreted as
a special function key on your keyboard in a terminal-independent way
(see the description of termcap (@pxref{Termcap}) to see how these keys
are defined).
KEY definitions are listed along with
other key bindings by the LIST EDIT command.

If the @code{string} ends in a \N, it will be executed the moment that
the key is struck. (Note that this is \N not \n, which would have
been interpreted as a newline.)

Only 10 keys can be defined, after that you'll start overwriting
earlier definitions (this is a result of the way that KEY was implemented;
if it is a serious nuisance send us mail).