IP

Prompts for and accepts input from the terminal.

Syntax

IP{char{bufferRef}}

Syntax Elements

char An optional prompt character. If included, it remains in effect until reset with an IBN, IBP, IN, IP or PROMPT command.

If char is not included, it defaults to the last prompt character used or to a colon (:) if no other character has been specified.

bufferRef A direct or indirect reference to a buffer or select register where the input data is to be placed.

Operation

IP{char} places data in the active input buffer, replacing the existing parameter pointed to by the buffer pointer.

IPchar bufferRef places input in the buffer or select register specified by bufferRef. The prompt character is required in this case.

Leading and trailing blanks are removed and embedded blanks are replaced with a single attribute mark, thereby replacing the current parameter in the input buffer with multiple parameters. If the input is to a file buffer attribute (as specified by bufferRef) and contains embedded blanks, the embedded blanks are replaced with a single attribute mark as above. The attributes then replace consecutive attributes in the item. For example:

If you enter "ABC   DEF   GHI" when the command, IP?&3.2  is executed, the values "ABC", "DEF", and "GHI" would replace attributes two, three, and four, respectively, in file buffer 3.

If you want to retain blanks input at the terminal and treat the input text as a single attribute, use the IBP command.

Pressing RETURN only in response to an input prompt nulls the current parameter as pointed to by the buffer pointer.

The input buffer pointer does not change position after an IP command.

Note

The IP command does not read stacked input the way an INPUT statement in DataBasic does. All input commands in Proc ignore stacked data.

Example 1

Command Input

PIB Before

PIB After

IP?
3-93

UPDATE^INV
          ↑

UPDATE^INV^3-9393
          ↑

Example 2

Command Input

PIB Before

PIB After

IP:
  XXX   YY

3^234^56^78^
↑

3^XXX^YY^56^78
  ↑

Example 3

Command Input

PIB Before

PIB After

IP?
RETURN

ABC^DEF^GHI
    ↑

ABC^^GHI
    ↑

Example 4

Command Input

File Buffer 1 Before

File Buffer 1 After

IP:&1.1
JONES

000 AB-221
001 SMITH
002 2500

000 AB-221
001 JONES
002 2500

Example 5

Command Input File Buffer 4 Before File Buffer 4 After
IP?&4.1
22 RED PEN

 		000 2831
001 15
002 BROWN
003 PENCIL 		000 2831
001 22
002 RED
003 PEN