6.1.1.1 INPUT Statement
The INPUT statement interactively prompts the user for
data. You can use the optional prompt string to clarify the
input request by specifying the type and number of data
elements required by the program. This is especially use-
ful when the program contains many variables, or when
someone else is running your program. For example:
INPUT "PLEASE TYPE 3 INTEGERS" ;B% ,C% ,D%
A% = B% + C% + D%
PRINT "THEIR SUM IS"; A%
END
Output
PLEASE TYPE 3 INTEGERS? 25,50,75
Return
.
If you have a semicolon separating the input prompt
string from the variable, BASIC prints the question mark
and space immediately after the input prompt string.
.
If you have a comma separating the input prompt string
from the variable, BASIC prints the input prompt string,
skips to the next print zone, and then prints the question
mark and space.
See Section 6.2.1 for more information about print zones.
For more information about formatting string prompts, see
Section 6.1.1.3.
You must provide one value for each variable in the INPUT
request. If you do not provide enough values, BASIC prompts
you again. For example:
INPUT A,B
END
Output
? 5
Return
Return
Return
Return
These responses assign the value 5 to variable A and zero to
variable B . In contrast, if you provide more values than there
are variables, BASIC ignores the excess.
In the following example, BASIC ignores the extra value (8).
Note that you can type multiple values if you separate them
with commas. Because commas separate variables in the
PRINT statement, BASIC prints each variable at the start of
a print zone.
INPUT A,B,C
PRINT A,B,C
END
Output
? 5,6,7,8
Return
If you name a string variable in an INPUT statement, you
can supply either numbers or letters, but BASIC treats the
data you supply as a string. Because digits and a decimal
point are valid text characters, numbers can be interpreted as
strings. For example:
INPUT "Please type a number"; A$
PRINT A$
Output
Please type a number? 25.5
25.5
BASIC interprets the response as a 4-character string instead
of as a numeric value.
You can type strings with or without quotation marks.
However, if you want to input a string containing a comma,
you should enclose the string in quotation marks or use the
INPUT LINE or LINPUT statement. If you do not, BASIC
treats the comma as a delimiter and assigns only part of the
string to the variable. If you use quotation marks, be sure
to type both beginning and ending marks. If you leave out
the end quotation mark, BASIC signals ``Data format error''
(ERR=50).