INPUT

The INPUT statement requests a STRING or numerical keyboard entry from the user.

Syntax

INPUT [;] "[Question or statement text]"{,|;} variable[, ...]

INPUT ; variable[, ...]

Parameters

• A semicolon after the INPUT keyword keeps the entry on the same row after enter is pressed and prevents the screen contents from rolling up.
• The optional prompt "Question or statement text" must be a literal predefined string. The prompt cannot use a variable.
• Quotation marks are required except when a semicolon follows INPUT. A question mark will appear before the cursor.
• A semicolon immediately after the text statement will display a question mark with a space after it. Use a comma for input statements.

Description

• QB64 does not return Redo from start errors like QBasic did, as user input is limited to the scope of the variable type used.
• Text entries (with a STRING variable]] can receive any characters, including numerical. QB64 will ignore commas in single variable text entries.
• The type of the variable used to store user input determines the valid numerical range for value entries in QB64, with non-numerical characters limited to D, E, &H, &O or &B.
  • For example, if you use an INTEGER variable, as in INPUT "Initial value: ", myValue%, the valid range is -32768 to 32767.
  • INTEGER, LONG, and _INTEGER64 entries will ignore decimal points entered and will use all numbers.
• INPUT can be used to get more than one variable value from the user. Do so by separating input variables with commas in the code.
  • The program must inform the user that more than one variable is requested, in order to enter each value separated with a comma at runtime.
  • String and numerical variables can both be used in multiple entry requests separated by commas.
  • QB64 allows comma separated entries to be skipped by the user without generating an error.
• Use LINE INPUT for text input entries that may contain commas such as address or name entries.
• The user must press enter for the INPUT procedure to end.
• INPUT accepts the scientific notation letters D or E in SINGLE or DOUBLE numerical values.
• Numerical values starting with &H, &O and &B can also be entered.
• The statement halts a program until enter is pressed, which may not be desired in programs using mouse input (see INKEY$ loops).
• Use _DEST _CONSOLE before INPUT statements to receive input from a console window.

Examples

Example 1: Using a variable in an input text message using PRINT. INPUT prompts cannot use variables.

INPUT "Enter your name: ", name$ PRINT name$ + " please enter your age: ";: INPUT "", age% 'empty string with comma PRINT name$ + " how much do you weigh"; : INPUT weight% 'no text adds ?

Explanation: Use an empty string with a comma to eliminate the question mark that would appear without the string.

Example 2: How QB64 avoids a Redo from start multiple entry error. Use commas between values.

DO INPUT "What is your name, age, and sex(M/F)"; name$, age%, sex$ LOOP UNTIL age% 'loop until age is not 0 IF age% >= 21 THEN PRINT "You can drink beer!" ELSE PRINT "You cannot drink beer yet!" END

What is your name, age, and sex(M/F)? Tom,24,M You can drink beer!

Explanation: Try to enter text for the age value and it will not work. E or D should be allowed as decimal point numerical entries.

Example 3: Preventing screen roll after an input entry on the bottom 2 screen rows.

SCREEN 12 COLOR 14: LOCATE 29, 2 ' place cursor at beginning of prompt line PRINT "Enter a name to search for... "; 'print prompt on screen with input to follow COLOR 15: INPUT ; "", name$ ' get search name from user LOCATE 29, 2: PRINT SPC(78); ' erase previous prompt n$ = UCASE$(name$) ' convert search name to upper case COLOR 14' change foreground color to yellow LOCATE 29, 2: PRINT "Searching..."; 'print message SLEEP

Enter a name to search for... █

Explanation: The red semicolon after INPUT acts like a semicolon after a PRINT, which keeps the print cursor on the same row.

See also

• INPUT$, INKEY$
• LINE INPUT, LOCATE
• INPUT #, LINE INPUT # (file input)
• _KEYHIT, _KEYDOWN
• Scancodes

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