NetEx EFT213 Reference Manual Rel 5.4

ASK CommandDescriptionThe ASK command prompts a user for one or more responses. If multiple responses are desired, the commandline should contain multiple variables to receive the user’s input. For example, if you are prompting auser for name and number, you should declare two variables (e.g., uname, unum) on the ASK command linein order to save both responses. If a user enters a carriage return (or ), the variable gets defined toa null string unless a default value is supplied with the DEFAULT qualifier.ASK variables get set to whatever the user types as input, whether it be one word or an entire string. If multiplevariables are declared, the first one is set to the first word of input, the second one gets set to the secondword of input, and so on. The last variable declared gets defined to the remainder of the input string. If youprompt for more input than the user gives (e.g., you declare four variables and the user types just two wordsof input), the remaining variables are defined to be a null string.Variable names specified on the ASK command line must be alphanumeric and no longer than 20 charactersin length. If no variable names are specified at all on the command line, ASK still prompts the user but novariables get defined. (This can be used to pause during input processing).In addition to the ASK command, you can define a variable by typing SET VARIABLE name value. Youcan display the list of all of your session variables by typing SHOW VARIABLES.FormatCommand Qualified ParameterASKWhere:ASK-DEFault-PROMpt-SECure-TIMEoutvariables[-DEFault string][-PROMpt string][-SECure | ON | ]| Off |[-TIMEout seconds](required) the verb for this command.[VAR1 [VAR2...]](optional) the default string passed to ASK if the user does not provide one. This defaultstring gets processed as if the user had typed it. The minimum spelling is -DEF.(optional) a string used for the ASK prompt. You need to enclose the PROMPT string indouble quotes in order to include trailing spaces on the prompt or to use multiple wordprompts. The minimum spelling is -PROM.(optional) tells NetEx/eFT not to echo the user’s response to this ASK command. SECUREis used primarily for reading in a user’s password or any other time security is a concern.This value should be set to either ON or OFF. The default is OFF unless SECURE is specified.The minimum spelling is -SEC.(optional) tells NetEx/eFT how long to wait, in seconds, for a response. This integer value isbetween 0 and 10000. The minimum spelling is –TIME. The default value id 0. This parameteris NOT functional in zOS.(optional) zero or more variable names separated by a space that will receive the user’s responseto the ASK command.Page 116 Command Descriptions REF-eFT213-R5.4-08