bash: parsing F-key (F1-F10) in script - bash

Question

I wrote a bash script, which has "buttons" similar to "mc" or Norton Commander. Right now, I use the number keys (1-0) to simulate the buttons being pressed. However, I would rather have the F-keys (F1-F10) to do it.
I saw this question and answers, but I am not certain this can be used in a script to trigger a function (e.g. by using "read").
Does bash support it? If so, is there a fairly easy way to implement it?
UPDATE
The script is kind of a dash, which needs to be refreshed in order to keep the contents current. However, at the same time I would like to keep the "channel" open to allow user input (therefore sleep would not be adequate).
The read line currently in use to get the user input looks like this:
read -n 1 -s -t "${iRefresh}" sReturnVar.
Here "iRefresh" is set to 2 seconds in order to time out when no input is given to refresh the display and return to the read line thereafter. In essence the read line doubles as a content refresher while waiting for user input.

Answer 1

This will dynamically determine the values for F1-F24, then use them in the context you're looking for. My system coopts F11, so I did not show that. This is somewhat brittle in that it depends on terminfo and sane terminal codes -- YMMV.
#!/usr/bin/env bash
read_key_press() {
if read -sN1 key_press; then
while read -sN1 -t 0.001 ; do
key_press+="${REPLY}"
done
fi
}
declare -a fnkey
for x in {1..24}; do
raw=$(tput kf$x | cat -A)
fnkey[$x]=${raw#^[}
done
while read_key_press; do
case "${key_press}" in
$'\e'${fnkey[1]}) echo 'F1';;
$'\e'${fnkey[2]}) echo 'F2';;
$'\e'${fnkey[3]}) echo 'F3';;
$'\e'${fnkey[4]}) echo 'F4';;
$'\e'${fnkey[5]}) echo 'F5';;
$'\e'${fnkey[6]}) echo 'F6';;
$'\e'${fnkey[7]}) echo 'F7';;
$'\e'${fnkey[8]}) echo 'F8';;
$'\e'${fnkey[9]}) echo 'F9';;
$'\e'${fnkey[10]}) echo 'F10';;
$'\e'${fnkey[11]}) echo 'F11';;
$'\e'${fnkey[12]}) echo 'F12';;
$'\e'${fnkey[13]}) echo 'F13';;
$'\e'${fnkey[14]}) echo 'F14';;
$'\e'${fnkey[15]}) echo 'F15';;
$'\e'${fnkey[16]}) echo 'F16';;
$'\e'${fnkey[17]}) echo 'F17';;
$'\e'${fnkey[18]}) echo 'F18';;
$'\e'${fnkey[19]}) echo 'F19';;
$'\e'${fnkey[20]}) echo 'F20';;
$'\e'${fnkey[21]}) echo 'F21';;
$'\e'${fnkey[22]}) echo 'F22';;
$'\e'${fnkey[23]}) echo 'F23';;
$'\e'${fnkey[24]}) echo 'F24';;
^D) exit ;; # note: this is a real <ctrl>-<d>
*) echo "Key pressed: ${key_press}";;
esac
done
For me, this produces:
<~> $ /tmp/so8897.sh
Key pressed: q
Key pressed: w
Key pressed: e
Key pressed: r
Key pressed: t
Key pressed: y
F1
F2
F3
F4
F5
F6
F7
F8
F9
F10
F12
F13
F14
F15
F16
F17
F18
F19
F20
F21
F22
F23
F24