answer
question with
reply or
reply or
reply at
point
answer
list
promptText with
list at
point
answer
file
promptText of
type
fileType or
fileType or
fileType at
point
answer
folder
directory
promptText at
point
answer
disk
volume
promptText at
point
Question, reply, promptText, and fileType yield string
s. List yields a list
. Point yields a point
.
answer "Which is the way the world ends?" with "Bang" or "Whimper"
answer file "Pick a file:"
The answer
command displays a prompt to the user with up to three possible responses. The last response appears as the default response to the prompt. If no possible responses are specified, a single possible response will be presented with the text "OK." The script waits until one of the possible responses is chosen. The chosen response is placed in the local variable it
.
The answer list
command displays a prompt to the user with a list of any number of possible responses. The script waits until one of the possible responses is selected. The chosen response is placed in the local variable it
and the result
is set to "OK"
. If the prompt is dismissed without choosing a response, empty
is placed in it
and the result
is set to "Cancel"
.
The answer file
command displays a prompt to the user asking to select a file. The script waits until a file is selected. The path of the selected file is placed in the local variable it
and the result
is set to "OK"
. If the prompt is dismissed without selecting a file, empty
is placed in it
and the result
is set to "Cancel"
.
The answer folder
or answer directory
command displays a prompt to the user asking to select a folder. The script waits until a folder is selected. The path of the selected folder is placed in the local variable it
and the result
is set to "OK"
. If the prompt is dismissed without selecting a folder, empty
is placed in it
and the result
is set to "Cancel"
.
The answer disk
or answer volume
command displays a prompt to the user asking to select a disk or volume. The script waits until a volume is selected. The path of the selected volume is placed in the local variable it
and the result
is set to "OK"
. If the prompt is dismissed without selecting a volume, empty
is placed in it
and the result
is set to "Cancel"
.
The exact presentation of the prompts is left to the implementation. OpenXION presents a stylized text-based prompt, or a plain text-based prompt if the -p
option is given. A GUI-based system, like HyperCard, will present an appropriate dialog box. The at
parameter gives a preferred location for this dialog box.
on chooseColor answer "Which color do you prefer?" with "Red" or ¬ "Blue" or "Yellow" if it is "Red" then answer "You picked red." else if it is "Blue" then answer "You picked blue." else if it is "Yellow" then answer "You picked yellow." end chooseColor
There is no way for a script to respond to a prompt by itself, so do not use answer
in a script intended to run unattended.
HyperTalk does not support the answer list
, answer directory
, answer disk
, or answer volume
forms, or the at
parameter. However, the Power Tools stack has the ShowList
XFCN that inspired the answer list
command and HyperTalk itself has an answer program
form that OpenXION does not.