9.0;readln, revision 9.0, 85/03/26
READLN -- Set a variable equal to an input value
usage:  READLN [-P[ROMPT] prompt] [-ERR[IN]] variable_list


FORMAT

  READLN [options] variable_list


  The  READLN  command  reads a line of input and sets a variable to that value.
  Use the "-P <prompt>" argument to instruct READLN to issue a prompt.    READLN
  accepts multiple variable names.

  The variable type is always a string.

  Refer  to  the  descriptions  of  the  READ  and  READC  commands  for related
  information.


ARGUMENTS

  variable_list
  (required)         Specify the name(s) of the variable(s)  that  receives  the
                     input value(s).  If you specify more than one variable name
                     (separated by blanks), READLN assigns the values  of  input
                     lines to the variables in the order that the variables were
                     named.


OPTIONS

  -P[ROMPT] prompt
                     Specify  a  particular  prompt  string to request the input
                     value.  Enclose the string in single quotes if it  contains
                     literal blanks.

  -ERR[IN]            Read  input  from  error  input instead of standard input.
                     This option is useful  for  reading  user  input  from  the
                     Shell's  input pad (where error input is normally directed)
                     when the READLN command appears inside  a  pipeline,  since
                     standard input in that case is connected to the pipe.


EXAMPLES

  Consider the following command line in a Shell script:

    READLN -p "Enter total here:" total

  In  this  example,  READLN  displays  the  prompt  "Enter total here:"  in the
  process input window, and assigns the value of the input line to the  variable
  named "total."


RELATED TOPICS

  More information is available.  Type:

  - HELP READC
   for information on assigning single-character strings to variables.

  - HELP READ
   for information on assigning multi-character strings to variables.