ckdate(1) ckdate(1)
NAME
ckdate, errdate, helpdate, valdate - prompt for and validate a
date
SYNOPSIS
ckdate [-Q] [-W width] [-f format] [-d default] [-h help] [-e error]
[-p prompt] [-k pid [-s signal]]
errdate [-W width] [-e error] [-f format]
helpdate [-W width] [-h help] [-f format]
valdate [-f format] input
DESCRIPTION
ckdate prompts a user and validates the response. It defines,
among other things, a prompt message whose response should be
a date, text for help and error messages, and a default value
(which is returned if the user responds with a RETURN). The
user response must match the defined format for a date.
All messages are limited in length to 70 characters and are
formatted automatically. Any white space used in the
definition (including newline) is stripped. The -W option
cancels the automatic formatting. When a tilde is placed at
the beginning or end of a message definition, the default text
is inserted at that point, allowing both custom text and the
default text to be displayed.
If the prompt, help or error message is not defined, the
default message (as defined under NOTICES) is displayed.
Three visual tool modules are linked to the ckdate command.
They are errdate (which formats and displays an error
message), helpdate (which formats and displays a help
message), and valdate (which validates a response). These
modules should be used in conjunction with FMLI objects. In
this instance, the FMLI object defines the prompt. When
format is defined in the errdate and helpdate modules, the
messages describe the expected format.
The options and arguments for this command are:
-Q Do not allow quit as a valid response..
-W Use width as the line length for prompt, help, and error
messages.
Copyright 1994 Novell, Inc. Page 1
ckdate(1) ckdate(1)
-f Verify input using format. Possible formats and their
definitions are:
%b abbreviated month name (for example, jan, feb,
mar)
%B full month name
%d day of month (01 - 31)
%D date as %m/%d/%y (the default format)
%e day of month (1 - 31; single digits are preceded
by a blank)
%h abbreviated month name (same as %b)
%m month number (01 - 12)
%y year within century (for example, 91)
%Y year as CCYY (for example, 1991)
-d The default value is default. The default is not
validated and so does not have to meet any criteria.
-h The help message is help.
-e The error message is error.
-p The prompt message is prompt.
-k Send process ID pid a signal if the user chooses to
abort.
-s When quit is chosen, send signal to the process whose
pid is specified by the -k option. If no signal is
specified, use SIGTERM.
input Input to be verified against format criteria.
EXIT CODES
0 = Successful execution
1 = EOF on input
1 = Usage error
3 = User termination (quit)
4 = Garbled format argument
NOTICES
The default prompt for ckdate is:
Enter the date [?,q]
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ckdate(1) ckdate(1)
The default error message is:
ERROR - Please enter a date. Format is format.
The default help message is:
Please enter a date. Format is format.
When the quit option is chosen (and allowed), q is returned
along with the return code 3. The valdate module does not
produce any output. It returns zero for success and non-zero
for failure.
Copyright 1994 Novell, Inc. Page 3