Author: [Ullrich Horlacher]
  Subj: another INPUT-command (was, re: progr. ALPHA)
  Date: Fri Aug 10 1990 08:44 

I was just about to write a question about a programmable ALPHA (using in an
own INPUT-command) when I read the following mail, which represents ABSOLUTELY
that, what I wanted to post by myself:

>From:UUCP%"bio_zwbb@jhunix.UUCP"  8-AUG-1990 14:21:15.45
>
>     First let me say that, in responding to Mr. Wickes' timely and
>helpful answer to my question concerning the lack of a programmable
>alpha-on in the 48, it is most definitely *NOT* my intention to start a
>flame war or a round of HP-bashing, nor to second-guess the 48 design
>team. What I *do* wish to do is to initiate a round of constructive user
>feedback so that HP might better meet users' needs in future products.
>(...)
>     I have recently tried to write a work-around for this problem, but
>with little success. Using "0 WAIT" to catch keypresses while displaying
>the graphics screen works, but is too slow when key location numbers must
>be converted to alpha characters using user commands (as opposed to
>(...)

I have the same problem: I want an input-command, which can control the whole
screen AND which doesn't erase it when invoking it. The main-reason is, that I
have a lot of games (*shame*) programmed on the 28, which I wanted to port to
the 48. The PROMPT and INPUT command don't fit exactly the behavior of the
IN-command (a program of my own for the 28), so I converted my IN-program
to the 48.
But I'm not happy with its speed. Also I have problems with the type-ahead-
buffer, which works not properly. Sometimes some keys are not recognized.
I would be very happy, if someone posts a better and flexible input-program.

Nevertheless, here is my version:


IN is a program for interactive input, like INPUT in BASIC or readln in 
Pascal. It returns the input-string to the stack. If you press the ALPHA-key,
the program is HALTed and you can do other things, like visit variables, and 
then CONTinue the program.

use:   2:        <prompt-string>
       1:  <display-line-number>
       IN


e.g.:  2:                "Value"
       1:                      3
       IN

or    << CLLCD "Value" 3 IN 'VALUE' STO >>

==>    +----------------------+
       |                      |
       |Value:_               |
       |                      |
       |                      |
       +----------------------+

#----------------------------------------------------------------------------#
    this mail came from Framstag!      |   asta@dulruu51.bitnet
 (sometimes known as Ulli Horlacher)   |   asta@rz.uni-ulm.dbp.de
 University of Ulm/Danube  W-Germany   |   asta@main01.rz.uni-ulm.de
 "Waiting for the prompt" -Marillion   |   framstag@dtupev5a.bitnet
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