*ASK
*ASK, Par, Query, DVAL
Prompts the user to input a parameter value.
Argument Descriptions
ParAn alphanumeric name used to identify the scalar parameter. See *SET for name restrictions.
QueryText string to be displayed on the next line as the query (32 characters maximum). Characters having special meaning (such as $ ! ,) should not be included.
DVALDefault value assigned to the parameter if the user issues a blank response. May be a number or character string (up to 8 characters enclosed in single quotes). If a default is not assigned, a blank response will delete the parameter.
Notes
Intended primarily for use in macros, the command prints the query (after the word
ENTER) on the next line and waits for a response. The response
is read from the keyboard, except in batch mode (/BATCH), when the response(s)
must be the next-read input line(s). The response may be a number, a character string (up to 8
characters enclosed in single quotes), a parameter (numeric or character) or an expression that
evaluates to a number. The scalar parameter is then set to the response value. For example,
*ASK,NN,PARAMETER NN will set NN to the value entered on the next line (after
the prompt ENTER PARAMETER NN).
The *ASK command is not written to File.log, but the
responses are written there as follows: If *ASK is contained in a macro, the
response(s) (only) is written to File.log on the line(s) following the macro
name. If not contained in a macro, the response is written to File.log as a
parameter assignment (that is, Par = "user-response").
If used within a do-loop that is executed interactively, *ASK should be contained in a macro. If not contained in a macro, *ASK will still query the user as intended, but the resulting log file will not reproduce the effects of the original run.
This command is valid in any processor.