ASK Version 1.1 - January 7, 1987 - ©1987 Sean Riddle
Oklahoma City Amiga Computer Enthusiasts BBS: (405) 631-9040

Usage: ASK <default> <time> <prompts>.

ASK is a public domain utility program that gets Y/N input from the keyboard
within a certain time limit and returns either 0 (for Y) or 5.  This return
value can be used from within an EXECUTE'd sequence file to control flow.
Version 1.1 of ASK supports a selectable timeout value (from 1-60 seconds,
or infinite), a timeout default of either Y or N, and is much smaller than
the older ASK (this one's about 4K.)  You can invoke ASK directly from the
CLI, although it has limited use.  A better way to use ASK is from within a
sequence file, such as startup-sequence.  For instance, to see if the user
would like a listing of the current directory, you could use this:

ASK Y 10 Do you want a directory?
IF WARN
   SKIP no
ENDIF
dir
LAB no

What this does is print the string "Do you want a directory? ".  Then ASK
waits for 10 seconds.  If you input Y, ASK returns a 0 and the directory is
output.  If you input N, ASK returns a 5, which is a WARNing error, causing
the sequence to SKIP to the LABel no.  If you do not type anything before
the 10 second time limit expires, ASK will default to Y, and return a 0.
Note that either upper- or lower-case may be entered, you must hit return
after Y or N, and that any extra characters on the line will be ignored.  If
you input characters other than Y or N, the program will reset the time
limit and complain.

You can use ASK in the startup-sequence to ask you if you want a RAM disk or
not; if you want Workbench or the CLI to come up; if you want your 5 1/4"
drive to be mounted or not.

Look at the AmigaDOS User's Manual at the EXECUTE, IF, SKIP, and LAB
commands.

This code represents quite a little bit of time I spent programming and
debugging.  I don't mind you modifying the code, but please leave in my
information.  I'd also like you to upload the new code and source to the OKC
ACE BBS (number above).  Please give this code to everyone, upload it on
every BBS, send it everywhere.  What good is it if nobody uses it?  Lastly,
if you really like the program or use it a lot, please send a small donation
to help me pay for my Amiga.

Thanks-
Sean Riddle
2636 Manchester Drive
OKC, OK  73120-3313