If the INPUT is to a string variable, the user can enter an unquoted or a quoted string. If the user enters an unquoted string, INTOUCH ignores any leading spaces, trailing spaces, or tabs. An unquoted string cannot contain commas.
If the user enters a quoted string, INTOUCH removes the quotes, and includes any leading or trailing spaces and tabs.
10 INPUT 'Enter your name': name1$
INPUT 'Enter your name in quotes': name2$
INPUT 'Enter your name in quotes with spaces': name3$
INPUT 'Enter last name, comma, space, first name in quotes': name4$
20 PRINT
PRINT name1$
PRINT name2$
PRINT name3$
PRINT name4$
30 END
RNH
Enter your name? Tony
Enter your name in quotes? 'Tony'
Enter your name in quotes with spaces? ' Tony '
Enter last name, comma, space, first name in quotes? 'Smith, Tony'
Tony
Tony
Tony
Smith, Tony
A single INPUT statement can be used to input several variables. The input items and variables must be separated with commas.
10 INPUT 'Enter 3 names separated by commas': name1$, name2$, name3$
20 PRINT
PRINT name1$, name2$, name3$
30 END
RNH
Enter 3 names separated by commas? Tom,Sue,George
Tom Sue George
If an INPUT statement contains a list of variables, INTOUCH asks for input until all of the variables have a value. If the user enters less data or more data than there are variables, INTOUCH generates an exception. If an exception occurs, INTOUCH restarts from the beginning.
Users can enter the data for a variable list in one of two ways.
RNH
Enter 3 names separated by commas? Tom,
? Sue,
? George
Tom Sue George
Whichever method is used, INTOUCH will continue accepting input data until all the variables have values.
A number of variables can be input with one LINE INPUT statement. Simply list the variables separated by line terminators.
10 LINE INPUT 'Enter a comment, press Return, enter a comment': &
comment_1$, comment_2$
PRINT
PRINT comment_1$
PRINT comment_2$
20 END
RNH
Enter a comment, press Return, enter a comment? This is first comment
? This is second comment
This is first comment
This is second comment
INTOUCH asks for input until all of the variables listed have received a value.
Unlike the INPUT statement, you cannot separate answers with commas. Each variable is prompted for separately. If you include a comma in your response, the comma is just taken as part of the text.
5.6 INPUT Default Prompt and Text
By default, INTOUCH prints a question mark and a space and then waits for the user's response. However, you can display prompt text before the question mark. To display prompt text, enclose the prompt text in quotes and follow it with a colon. The colon separates the prompt text from the variable(s). The prompt text must follow the keyword INPUT and must be separated from the variable list by a colon.
When INTOUCH executes the INPUT statement, it prints the prompt text ("Your name" in the example below) followed by a question mark and a space.
10 INPUT 'Your name': name$
20 PRINT name$
30 END
RNH
Your name? Fred
Fred
The PROMPT option displays the specified prompt text without the question mark and space.
PROMPT str_expr
str_expr is a string expression which contains the prompt text. str_expr can be any string expression. The prompt text is separated from the variable list with a colon (:).
10 INPUT PROMPT 'Please enter your name: ': name$
20 PRINT 'Hello '; name$
30 END
RNH
Please enter your name: Jackie
Hello Jackie
The AT option positions the cursor on the specified row and column. This is the position where the INPUT statement starts the prompt, not where the user enters data.
AT row, col
row is the row to print at. col is the column to print at. row and col can be any integer numeric constants.
10 CLEAR
PRINT AT 1, 1:
20 INPUT AT 3, 10, PROMPT 'Please enter your name: ': name$
30 PRINT 'Hello '; name$
40 END
RNH
(row 3, col 10)
|
V
Please enter your name: Jack
Hello Jack
The ATTRIBUTES option allows input with attributes. The available attributes are:
Multiple attributes used in one INPUT statement are separated by commas.
ATTRIBUTES attr_list
attr_list contains a list of input attributes.
10 name_attr$ = 'BOLD, UNDERLINE'
20 LINE INPUT 'Enter your name', ATTRIBUTES name_attr$: name$
30 PRINT 'Hello '; name$
40 END
RNH
Enter your name? Susan
Hello Susan
The LENGTH option limits the number of characters that a user can enter. It causes INTOUCH to display underscore characters following the prompt. The number of underscore characters is the length.
LENGTH num_expr
num_expr is the number of characters the user can enter.
10 INPUT 'Enter your name', LENGTH 15: name$
20 INPUT 'Enter a city', LENGTH 20: city$
30 PRINT name$, city$
40 END
RNH
Enter your name? Betty__________
Enter a city? 'San Diego'_________
Betty San Diego
DEFAULT lets you provide defaults for INPUT statements. INTOUCH automatically formats the default appropriately. The user can press Return to accept the default you provide.
DEFAULT str_expr
str_expr is a string expression that will be used as the default. When INTOUCH executes an INPUT statement with a default, it prints the default after the prompt.
10 INPUT 'Enter the state code', DEFAULT 'CA': state$
20 PRINT 'The state was: '; state$
30 END
RNH
Enter the state code? CA
The state was: CA
If the user does not want the default, they can simply type over the default text.
5.11.1 Pre-positioning to a DEFAULT Menu Item
When performing an INPUT MENU, the DEFAULT option can be used to specify a default menu path. The default takes the format of:
#item1;#item2;...
#item1 is the number of the item on the first menu, #item2 is the number of the item on the second menu, and so on.
Upon the completion of a INPUT MENU statement, the concept _STRING contains the menu path taken by the user when selecting the menu item. i.e. #2;#3 means the 3rd item of the 2nd submenu. (For information on menus, see Section 5.17, MENU Option.)
10 CLEAR
20 line1$ = '%WIDTH 12, %MENUBAR, %AUTOVBAR ON,'
line2$ = 'file = {new, get_file, save, save_as},'
line3$ = 'edit = {cut, copy, paste},'
line4$ = 'paragraph = {font, alignment, spacing, tabs, headers, footers},'
line5$ = 'options = {ruler = {on, off}, side_bar = {on, off},'
line6$ = 'view = {enlarged, normal, small}},exit'
30 test_menu$ = line1$ + line2$ + line3$ + line4$ + line5$ + line6$
the_default$ = ''
40 DO
INPUT MENU test_menu$, DEFAULT the_default$: ans$
IF _EXIT THEN EXIT DO
MESSAGE 'Menu path was', _STRING
the_default$ = _STRING
LOOP
50 END
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| FILE | EDIT | PARAGRAPH | OPTIONS | EXIT |
+--------------------------------------------+---OPTIONS---+-------------------+
| RULER [>|
| SIDE_BAR +----VIEW-----+
| VIEW | ENLARGED |
+-----------| NORMAL |
| SMALL |
+-------------+
Menu path was #4;#3;#2
The ERASE option clears the input line prior to accepting input. After input has been completed, the input line is cleared again.
10 CLEAR
PRINT AT 1,1:
20 INPUT 'Please enter a name', AT 3,1: name_1$
INPUT 'Enter a 2nd name', AT 4,1, ERASE: name_2$
PRINT '1st name: '; name_1$
PRINT '2nd name: '; name_2$
30 END
RNH
Please enter a name? James
1st name: James
2nd name: Tony
The VALID option validates user responses according to specified validation rules.
VALID str_expr
str_expr is the list of validation rules.
You can refer to the VALID() function in Appendix A, Built-in Functions for information on all the validation rules.
10 INPUT 'Enter name', LENGTH 20: name$
20 INPUT 'Enter age', LENGTH 5, VALID 'INTEGER': age$
30 PRINT name$, age$
40 END
RNH
Enter name? Aaron_______________
Enter age? 32___
Aaron 32
The TIMEOUT option limits the time the user has to respond to the INPUT prompt. A time limit must be specified with the TIMEOUT option. If the user does not complete the INPUT statement within the specified time, an exception ("timeout on input at xx") is generated.
TIMEOUT num_expr
num_expr is a numeric expression that represents the number of seconds allowed for the response.
10 INPUT 'Name', TIMEOUT 4.5: name$
20 END
RNH
Name? Timeout on input at 10
INTOUCH
TIMEOUT 30 gives the user approximately 30 seconds to enter a name. Fractions of a second can be indicated by including decimal digits. TIMEOUT 4.5 gives the user approximately 4.5 seconds to enter a name.
The AREA option does input from an area on the screen.
LINE INPUT AREA top, left, bottom, right: str_expr
| Top | Top row of the area on the screen | |
| Left | Left column of the area | |
| Bottom | Bottom row of the area | |
| Right | Right column of the area |
10 CLEAR
20 MESSAGE 'Press GOLD/F when done'
30 LINE INPUT AREA 5, 10, 8, 60: text$
40 PRINT AT 10, 1: 'Rewrapped text'
50 wt$ = WRAP$(text$, 1, 30)
60 PRINT wt$
70 END
RNH
This is an example of wrapped text. The text is
wrapping.__________________________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
Rewrapped text
This is an example of wrapped
text. The text is wrapping.
During a LINE INPUT AREA, the following features are available:
While you are entering text in an area, you can use the following commands:
| Text | To enter text, just type it. | |
| Arrow keys | To move around, press UP, DOWN, LEFT, RIGHT | |
| CTRL/H | Moves cursor to beginning of line | |
| CTRL/E | Moves cursor to end of line | |
| GOLD/B | Moves cursor to the top of the area | |
| GOLD/F | Complete (finish) and save the input | |
| F10 | Exit (abort) the input | |
| CTRL/Z | Exit (abort) the input | |
| Help | Exits from the input and sets the variable _HELP to true |
When you finish a LINE INPUT AREA, INTOUCH removes any trailing line feeds and spaces.
The SCREEN option is used to create formatted data entry screens. The SCREEN option lets the user enter data into a fill-in area.
SCREEN str_expr
str_expr specifies the screen format.
10 INPUT 'Your name, please': name$
20 INPUT SCREEN 'Soc. sec.: <DIGITS:###-##-####>': SSN
30 PRINT name$, 'Social security number:'; SSN
40 END
RNH
Your name, please? John
Soc. sec.: ___-__-____
When the program executes, INTOUCH displays the prompt "Soc. sec.:" and a fill-in area with underscore characters where the user must fill in a number. The fill-in area is highlighted. As the user enters the social security number, it appears in the fill-in area and the underscores disappear. When the Return key is pressed, the number is assigned to the the variable SSN.
RNH
Your name, please? John
Soc. sec.: 555-48-6662
John Social security number: 555486662
You can use the SCREEN option with any data type. A string expression follows the keyword SCREEN. The expression contains any text to print and the format for the fill-in areas.
A number of commands can be used within the format to control how the fill-in area works. These fall into two categories:
Format options come first. They are followed by a colon and then by format characters.
5.16.1 Screen Format Characters
The # is used to specify digits. Wherever a # sign appears, only these types of characters are allowed as input. For example, the # might be used for a phone number:
10 INPUT SCREEN '<:(###) ###-####>': phone
20 PRINT phone
30 END
When INTOUCH executes this program, it displays the following fill-in area:
(___) ___-____
RNH
(555) 554-7879
5555547879
The @ is used to specify any printable character, including letters and numbers.
10 INPUT SCREEN 'License #: <@@@ @@@@>': license$
20 PRINT 'License: '; license$
30 END
RNH
License #: INF 5783
License: INF5783
A decimal point is used to align the fractional portion of a floating point number. If the screen format is in the form <###.####>, when the user presses the . key, the digits will be right-justified to the decimal point. When the field is complete, the digits to the right of the decimal will be left-zero filled.
10 PRINT 'Input .59, please'
20 INPUT SCREEN 'Amount: <###.####>': amt$
PRINT 'Amount = '; amt$
30 END
RNH
Input .59, please
Amount = .5900
The ^ is used to specify an UPPER-CASE letter. If the next character input is a lower-case letter, INTOUCH will change it to upper-case and echo it to the terminal in upper-case.
10 INPUT SCREEN 'First name: <^@@@@@@@@@@@@@>': first$
INPUT SCREEN 'Middle initial: <^>.': middle$
INPUT SCREEN 'Last name: <^@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@>': last$
20 PRINT first$; ' '; middle$; '. '; last$
30 END
RNH
First name: John___________
Middle initial: B.
Last name: Smithy___________
John B. Smithy
The ~ (tilde) is used to specify that any character that follows the ~ will not be replaced.
If you use format options, they must be placed before the format characters and followed by a colon. The following format options are available:
Upper-cases all letters that are typed. If you type a letter in lower-case, it is changed to upper-case and echoed to the terminal screen in upper-case.
10 PRINT 'Type in some text!'
20 INPUT SCREEN '<UCASE:@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@>': text$
30 PRINT 'Here is your text: '; text$
40 END
RNH
Type in some text!
JOHN B. SMITHY______
Here is your text: JOHN B. SMITHY
Lower-cases all letters that are typed. If you type a letter in upper-case, it is changed to lower-case and echoed to the terminal screen in lower-case.
10 PRINT 'Type in some text!'
20 INPUT SCREEN '<LCASE: @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@>': text$
30 PRINT 'Here is your text: '; text$
40 END
RNH
Type in some text!
john b. smithy
Here is your text: john b. smithy
Typed characters are not echoed (printed) on the screen.
10 INPUT SCREEN '<NOECHO:Password? @@@@@>' : pw$
20 PRINT pw$
30 END
RNH
Password? _____
Elene
Allows only digits to be entered in the field. The format character # also allows the minus sign and the decimal point.
10 INPUT SCREEN 'Phone: <DIGITS:###-####>': phone
20 PRINT phone
30 END
RNH
Phone: 555-6798
5556798
AJ causes INTOUCH to jump automatically to the next field when the current field has been filled in. The field must be completely filled in before INTOUCH will jump to the next field.
10 INPUT SCREEN 'Phone: <AJ, DIGITS:###-####>': phone
20 INPUT SCREEN 'Soc. sec.: <DIGITS:###-##-####>': ssn
30 PRINT phone, ssn
40 END
RNH
Phone: 555-3839
Soc. sec.: 899-75-3432
5553839 899753432
REQ specifies that input is required and you must enter something. The computer will beep and you will be prompted until valid input is entered.
The AT option displays the field on the screen at the row and column position specified. row specifies the row to print at. column specifies the column to print at.
You can supply defaults for each field in the screen. The format of the defaults is a list of values separated with line feeds. Defaults are set up in the following example.
10 city$ = 'St Paul'
state$ = 'Minnesota'
df$ = city$ + chr$(10) + state$
CLEAR
scr$ = '<AT 6, 10: City @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@>' &
+'<AT 7, 10: State ^^>'
INPUT SCREEN scr$, DEFAULT df$: city$, state$
20 END
RNH
City St. Paul
State Mi
The VALID option allows full validation of each field on the screen. (See the VALID function in Appendix A for a list of validation rules.) The format of the VALID option is:
VALID 'rule_str'
rule_str is the list of validation rules. Multiple validation rules are separated by semi-colons.
10 INPUT SCREEN 'code = <VALID "integer":###-##-##>': ans$
PRINT ans$
20 END
RNH
code = 121-23-47
1212347
The ELAPSED option keeps track of the time it takes the user to respond to an INPUT prompt. INTOUCH assigns the elapsed time to the variable specified. The ELAPSED option starts marking time when INTOUCH finishes displaying the prompt. Time stops when all the variables listed in the INPUT statement have values. The format is:
ELAPSED num_var
num_var is the numeric variable the elapsed time is assigned to. INTOUCH returns the elapsed time in seconds. If a real numeric variable is specified, INTOUCH returns the time to a hundredth of a second (1/100).
10 INPUT 'Name', ELAPSED x: name$
20 PRINT name$; ', your elapsed time is'; x
30 END
RNH
Name? John
John, your elapsed time is 1.39
If an integer variable is specified, INTOUCH rounds the time to the nearest second.
10 INPUT 'Name', ELAPSED x%: name$
20 PRINT name$; ', your elapsed time is'; x%
30 END
RNH
Name? Julie
Julie, your elapsed time is 1
The BOLD, BLINK, UNDERLINE and REVERSE options allow each input string to be displayed with its own attributes. If these format options are used together with the ATTRIBUTES option, the ATTRIBUTES option will be supressed.
10 INPUT SCREEN '<AT 5,10, BOLD,BLINK:@@@@@@>' + &
'<AT 6,10, REVERSE:@@@@@@>': str1$, str2$
20 END
When a single INPUT SCREEN statement is used to create a fill-in screen, certain keys on the keyboard have special functions. The following keys can be used to complete the screen: