two problems with terminator: vi and line spacing/cursor size

[M. Fioretti]

Before answering the replies I got: whatever is happening here, it is
a combination of vi(m) and LOCAL terminals, because:

- the problem I described happens when using vi which is "VIM - Vi
  IMproved 8.2" in a LOCAL terminal, also in xterm, not just Terminator
- I am writing this email in emacs inside mutt, and the arrow key works as it should
- if I ssh into a centos box and use vi, which on that box is "VIM -   Vi IMproved 7.4" the arrow key also works as it should

Now, answering to C. Green first:

> were you in insert mode or not?... or were you expecting the left
> arrow key to move the cursor left?

I explicitly wrote that this happens in insert mode. Of course I was
expecting "the left arrow key to move the cursor left". Why should I
expect anything different from pressing a key with a left arrow on it?

Also, see below my answer to Karl.

On Mon, May 08, 2023 02:27:19 AM +1000, Karl Auer wrote:
> I think pressing left arrow is generating an ESC-O-D sequence,
> but the terminal is processing the sequence as separate inputs.
> Probably because it expects ANSI+reset.
> 
> ESC drops you out of insert mode
> O inserts a line above the current one
> D is a D :-)
> 
> I would half expect you to get an A for up arrow, a B for down arrow
> and a C for right arrow...

THIS ("A for up arrow", B, C etc) is exactly what happens. BUT, it happens
only in vi/VIM 8.2 in a local terminal, see above. It does not happens
when I use emacs in the same terminal, or if I use vi/VIM 7.4 on a
remote computer, over ssh

Finally:
> Try this:
> - type "cat"
> - press ENTER
> - press left-arrow
> 
> I think you will see a caret, two left square brackets, and a "D".

No. I only see a new line appear, with "D" inside, like this:
D
cat

> Investigate whether your terminal supports alternative emulations.

how would I do that?
Last but not least, about the line spacing problem:

> The line spacing could be another emulation problem, for example if the
> emulation treats carriage return as newline.

I understand what you mean, but why did it appear when I tried
different resolutions? Also, unlike the "arrow keys" problem, this one
ONLY happens in terminator, not in xterm or konsole.

Thanks,
Marco