Technotools/Technotools (Chestnut CD-ROM)(1993).ISO/batch/inpt15/input.doc

Text File | 1991-10-30 | 11.8 KB | 306 lines

       INPUT.EXE 1.5
       Copyright 1991 by Chuck Steenburgh

          If you use batch files very often, you've probably acquired
       a program called ASK.COM or QUERY.COM or something similar
       that allows you to ask questions and receive simple respones.
       Usually, this involves typing an ECHO command with your
       question, followed by ASK.COM or whatever.  If you do this
       alot, you will probably appreciate the fact the INPUT.EXE
       will accomplish the jobs of both the ECHO and ASK commands.
       Add to this the greater flexibility that INPUT.EXE offers
       in presenting your prompt to the user and in receiving input,
       and you'll be sold.

       Usage: INPUT ["prompt"] [color] [/C] [/I] [/S] [/Y | /N] [/Pd] |

                 "prompt"        Enter the text you would like to
                                 appear to prompt the user for
                                 input.  This can be up to 59 char-
                                 acters and must be enclosed in
                                 quotation marks.

                 color           Enter a number representing the
                                 color in which you want your mes-
                                 sage to appear.  You must, of
                                 course, have a color monitor and
                                 card.  See Appendix 3.

                 /C              Include this switch if you want
                                 your prompt message centered on
                                 the current line.  If you include
                                 this switch, you MUST include a
                                 color value.

                 /I              Use this for a case-insensitive error
                                 level return.  If this switch is
                                 included on the command line, pressing
                                 a letter a-z (lower case) will return
                                 the same value as if the corresponding
                                 key A-Z (upper case) were pressed.

                 /S              Show keypress.  Adding this switch
                                 will cause INPUT to display the
                                 errorlevel value returned.  Use this
                                 for quick "debugging" of your use
                                 of INPUT.EXE

                 /Y              Use this for a yes-no only response.
                                 If the "n" key is pressed, errorlevel
                                 of "0" is returned; pressing any other
                                 key returns an errorlevel of 1.  The
                                 prompt "(Y/n)" is appended to the nor-
                                 mal prompt specified by the user.

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                 /N              Use this for a yes-no only response.
                                 If the "y" key is pressed, errorlevel
                                 of "1" is returned; pressing any other
                                 key returns an errorlevel of 0.  The
                                 prompt "(y/N)" is appended to the nor-
                                 mal prompt specified by the user.
                                 This switch takes precedence over the
                                 /y switch.

                 /Pd             Pause 10 seconds for user input, then |
                                 default to "d" (where "d" is any char-|
                                 acter.  INPUT will wait up 10 seconds |
                                 for user input.  If no key is pressed |
                                 within 10 seconds, INPUT will act as  |
                                 if the key specified by the key rep-  |
                                 resented by the single character "d"  |
                                 was pressed.  Note that all other     |
                                 switches (case insensitivity, yes/no  |
                                 answer, etc.) remain active if time   |
                                 expires and the default key is used.  |
                                 INPUT adds a warning that it will de- |
                                 fault to the specified value after 10 |
                                 seconds, and will display a succession|
                                 of ten dots to indicate elapsed time. |

                 The command line parameters may be entered in any
                 order, may be in any case, and may be preceded by
                 either the "/" or "-" character.

       Examples:

            INPUT "Select a number from one to 10"

            This prints the text "Select on number from one to 10"
       on the current line and waits for a keypress.

            INPUT "Press any key to continue" 79

            This prints the text "Press any key to continue" on the
       current line in bright white on a red background and waits
       for a keypress.

            INPUT "Press the space bar to exit" 143 /c

            This prints the text "Press the space bar to exit" cen-
       tered on the current line in flashing bright white on a black
       background.

            INPUT /s /i "Press any key..." /c 14

            Prompts user with "Press any key..." in yellow on black.
       Returns a case-insensitive errorlevel and displays it on the
       screen before terminating.

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            INPUT "Do you wish to continue?" /s 79 /y

            Prompts user with "Do you wish to continue? (Y/n)" in
       white on red.  Returns errorlevel of 1 unless the "n" key is
       pressed.  Displays errorlevel on screen.

            INPUT "Press any key..." /pf                               |

            Prompts user with "Press any key... (defaults to f after   |
       10 seconds)" in black on white.  Returns errorlevel of 102 if   |
       no key is pressed within 10 seconds, otherwise returns value of |
       key pressed.

            INPUT "Press any key..." /c /pf                            |

            Prompts user with "Press any key... (defaults to f after   |
       10 seconds)" in black on white.  Returns errorlevel of 70 if no |
       key is pressed within 10 seconds, otherwise returns the upper   |
       case ASCII value of the key pressed.                            |

          INPUT will also sound an alarm to let the user know that
       a response is expected.

          When a key is pressed, INPUT will set the errorlevel equal
       to the ASCII value of the key pressed.  This is slightly dif-
       ferent from BATBOX in that in normal operation INPUT is case
       sensitive and will allow you to distinguish between upper and
       lower case letters.  If you want a case-insensitive return, use
       the /i switch.  See Appendix 2 for a complete list of the ASCII
       characters theoretically supported by INPUT.

          If you want greater control over the placement of your prompt
       message on the screen, use WRITE in conjunction with INPUT.
       Use WRITE to display your prompt then use INPUT without the
       "prompt," color, or /c parameters.


          INPUT is part of STEENBURGH'S STUFF Mildly Useful Utilities.
       STEENBURGH'S STUFF includes the following programs:

            BATBOX:     Simple menu creation/input system
            CLK:        Displays time on screen
            FREEDISK:   Checks for available disk space
            INPUT:      Simple prompt/input system
            KLS:        Colorful screen-clearing utility
            LAUNCHER:   File selection/execution system
            MUSIC:    Plays transcribed sheet music on the PC
            RAND:       Random number generator
            SKIP:       Prints blank lines from batch files
            SOUNDER:    Wide range of noise making options
            WAITFOR:    Timed pauses
            WHENISIT:   Date/time telling utility
            WRITE:      Colorful output anywhere on screen

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            XD:         Create/switch directories at the same time

          The current version of STEENBURGH'S STUFF is 1.5, and can
       be found on many BBS's as STUF15.ZIP (earlier versions include
       STUF14.ZIP, STUF13.ZIP, etc.).  It can also be found on Compu-
       Serve in the IBMSYS libraries.

       DISCLAIMER

          The programs described in this documentation are guaran-
       teed to absolutely nothing!  They have, however, in my exper-
       ience performed essentially as described herein.  The author
       will not be responsible for any loss or damages caused through
       the use of these programs.

          All trademarks are property of their respective owners.

          The programs and documentation are Copyright 1991 by Chuck
       Steenburgh.  You are encouraged to distribute these programs
       provided the following conditions are met:

          - all files contained in this archive must be distrib-
            uted together in UNMODIFIED form

          - you charge no more than a reasonable fee for copying or
            subscription, and clearly indicate that payment of such
            a fee does NOT grant ownership of the programs.

          You may evaluate these programs for up to 30 days on a free
       trial basis.  After 30 days, you should register your use of
       these programs.  The registration fee is $10, payable to the
       author at the address given below.  This registration fee in-
       cludes registration of ALL the programs described above as
       part of STEENBURGH'S STUFF.

          Let's be real: I don't plan to make alot of money this way.
       Registration does have its advantages:

          - I am improving these programs all the time.  Registration
            will get you IMMEDIATELY a disk with the latest version,
            which includes a version of BATBOX with user-selected
            menu colors.  When Version 2.0 of these utilities is re-
            leased, you will also receive that free of charge.

          - While I can't promise to include everyone's suggestions
            in program updates, you can bet I'll listen to registered
            users before any of you scrounges out there.

          - You will me feel all warm and fuzzy and appreciated, and
            all that good stuff.

          - You will also get an evaluation copy of my text-file for-
            matting program (used to produce the margins in this doc-
            ument).

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          Send comments/registrations to:

               Chuck Steenburgh
               304A North Main Street
               Lexington, VA 24450
               [phone]

               CIS 72330,1776 (I haunt the IBMSYS and IBMPRO forums)














































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