ckdate [-Q] [-W width] [-f format] [-d default] [-h help] [-e error] [-p prompt] [-k pid [-s signal]]errdate [-W width] [-e error] [-f format]
helpdate [-W width] [-h help] [-f format]
valdate [-f format] input
helpdate- prompt for and validate a date
valdate- prompt for and validate a date
ckdate prompts a user and validates the response. It defines, among other things, a prompt message whose response should be a date, text for help and error messages, and a default value (which is returned if the user responds with a <Return>). The user response must match the defined format for a date.
All messages are limited in length to 70 characters and are formatted automatically. Any white space used in the definition (including newline) is stripped. The -W option cancels the automatic formatting. When a tilde is placed at the beginning or end of a message definition, the default text is inserted at that point, allowing both custom text and the default text to be displayed.
If the prompt, help or error message is not defined, the default message (as defined under ``Notices'') is displayed.
Three visual tool modules are linked to the ckdate command. They are errdate (which formats and displays an error message), helpdate (which formats and displays a help message), and valdate (which validates a response). These modules should be used in conjunction with FMLI objects. In this instance, the FMLI object defines the prompt. When format is defined in the errdate and helpdate modules, the messages describe the expected format.
The options and arguments for this command are:
Enter the date [?,q]
The default error message is:
ERROR - Please enter a date. Format is
format.
The default help message is:
Please enter a date. Format is
format.
When the quit option is chosen (and allowed), q
is
returned along with the return code 3.
The valdate module does not produce any output.
It returns zero for success and non-zero for failure.