Index: g_editor.c
===================================================================
--- g_editor.c	(revision 9725)
+++ g_editor.c	(working copy)
@@ -1469,8 +1469,18 @@
     else if (av[1].a_type == A_FLOAT)
     {
         char buf[3];
-        sprintf(buf, "%c", (int)(av[1].a_w.w_float));
-        gotkeysym = gensym(buf);
+        switch((int)(av[1].a_w.w_float))
+        {
+        case 8:  gotkeysym = gensym("BackSpace"); break;
+        case 9:  gotkeysym = gensym("Tab"); break;
+        case 10: gotkeysym = gensym("Return"); break;
+        case 27: gotkeysym = gensym("Escape"); break;
+        case 32: gotkeysym = gensym("Space"); break;
+        case 127:gotkeysym = gensym("Delete"); break;
+        default:
+            sprintf(buf, "%c", (int)(av[1].a_w.w_float));
+            gotkeysym = gensym(buf);
+        }
     }
     else gotkeysym = gensym("?");
     fflag = (av[0].a_type == A_FLOAT ? av[0].a_w.w_float : 0);
Index: u_main.tk
===================================================================
--- u_main.tk	(revision 9725)
+++ u_main.tk	(working copy)
@@ -1254,9 +1254,9 @@
         bind $name.c <Mod1-Key> {pdtk_canvas_ctrlkey %W %K 0}
         bind $name.c <Mod1-Shift-Key> {pdtk_canvas_ctrlkey %W %K 1}
     }
-    bind $name.c <Key> {pdtk_canvas_key %W %K %A 0}
-    bind $name.c <Shift-Key> {pdtk_canvas_key %W %K %A 1}
-    bind $name.c <KeyRelease> {pdtk_canvas_keyup %W %K %A}
+    bind $name.c <Key> {pdtk_canvas_sendkey %W 1 %K %A 0}
+    bind $name.c <Shift-Key> {pdtk_canvas_sendkey %W 1 %K %A 1}
+    bind $name.c <KeyRelease> {pdtk_canvas_sendkey %W 0 %K %A 0}
     bind $name.c <Motion> {pdtk_canvas_motion %W %x %y 0}
     bind $name.c <Control-Motion> {pdtk_canvas_motion %W %x %y 2}
     if {$pd_nt == 2} {
@@ -1603,44 +1603,33 @@
     pdtk_canvas_checkgeometry [canvastosym $name]
 }
 
-proc pdtk_canvas_key {name key iso shift} {
-#    puts stderr [concat down key= $key iso= $iso]
-#    .controls.switches.meterbutton configure -text $key
-#  HACK for MAC OSX -- backspace seems different; I don't understand why.
-#  invesigate this LATER...
+proc pdtk_canvas_sendkey {name state key iso shift} {
     global pd_nt
-    if {$pd_nt == 2} {
-        if {$key == "BackSpace"} {
-            set key 8
-            set keynum 8
-        }
-        if {$key == "Delete"} {
-            set key 8
-            set keynum 8
-        }
+	if {$key == "BackSpace"} {
+		set iso ""
+		set key 8
+	} elseif {$key == "Tab"} {
+       set iso ""
+		set key 9
+	} elseif {$key == "Return"} {
+        set iso ""
+		set key 10
+	} elseif {$key == "Escape"} {
+        set iso ""
+		set key 27
+	} elseif {$key == "Space"} {
+        set iso ""
+		set key 32
+	} elseif {$key == "Delete" || $key == "KP_Delete"} {
+        set iso ""
+		set key 127
     }
-    if {$key == "KP_Delete"} {
-        set key 127
-        set keynum 127
-    }
     if {$iso != ""} {
-        scan $iso %c keynum 
-        pd [canvastosym $name] key 1 $keynum $shift\;
-    } else {
-        pd [canvastosym $name] key 1 $key $shift\;
+        scan $iso %c key
     }
+	pd [canvastosym $name] key $state $key $shift \;
 }
 
-proc pdtk_canvas_keyup {name key iso} {
-#    puts stderr [concat up key= $key iso= $iso]
-    if {$iso != ""} {
-        scan $iso %c keynum 
-        pd [canvastosym $name] key 0 $keynum 0 \;
-    } else {
-        pd [canvastosym $name] key 0 $key 0 \;
-    }
-}
-
 proc pdtk_canvas_ctrlkey {name key shift} {
 # first get rid of ".c" suffix; we'll refer to the toplevel instead
     set topname [string trimright $name .c]