Command: ask

Syntax

ask <message>,<ident> {,<ident> ... }

Description

Prompt the operator for the value of one or more identifiers.

Parameters

• <message>
  The prompt in the form of an output list.

• <ident>
  The identifier(s) to be given values.

Switches

• -col=<color>
  The color of the pop-up window. If omitted, a default color is used.

• -d=<values>
  The default value(s) for the identifier(s) if the operator gives no values.

• -fo=<font>
  The font to be used for text in the pop-up window. This must be a fixed font. If omitted, a default system font is used.

• -l
  When reading the values, take the value of a string identifier as the full line.

• -m{p}
  Permit the operator to choose from the master menus as an alternative to answering the prompt. If -mp is used, all commands selected from master menus will be executed in-line, i.e. control will return to the pop-up menu after execution. If-m is used then only master menu commands beginning with a | character will be executed in-line, and commands without a leading | will abort the pop-up before being executed.

• -ocol=<color>
  The other color for use in the pop-up window, e.g. for text. If omitted, a default color is used.

• -pd
  If -d has been specified, append the default answer to the prompt.

• -pos=<screen_xy>
  X,Y screen position for the menu. The default is the value of menu_position.

• -sec
  Make the input secret. All characters entered are echoed as * to hide what is typed.

• -t
  Give the prompt in the monitor terminal window rather than in pop-up form (the default).

• -tit=<string>
  The text to be displayed in the menu window frame. If omitted, the program name is displayed. This option applies to Windows systems only.

Notes

Where possible the prompt will be shown via a pop-up menu. The menu will remain on display until the operator gives a syntactically valid answer. The menu contains an OK and a Cancel button.

A ? will be automatically added to the prompt, or [<values>] ? if the -d and -pd switches are present.

When giving multiple value answers, values for identifiers can be separated by a comma or white space, but must be on the one input line.

The system identifier found is set by this command; to 1 when a proper answer is keyed or the OK button pressed, to 0 otherwise.

Examples

Declare a numeric and get its value from the operator.

numeric x; ask 'Give X',x

Declare a string and get its value from the operator. The menu position is given and a default answer. The prompt is: "Your Address [nowhere] ?". The answer, including spaces, is read as a single string.

string addr
ask 'Your Address',addr,-d=’nowhere’,-pd,-l,-pos=<20,20>

Get the password from the operator.

string pwd
ask 'Give the password',pwd,-sec

See Also