Input()
Reads a number of characters from console or file
Syntax
`
Declare Function Input ( n As Integer ) As String
Declare Function Input ( n As Integer, filenum As Integer ) As String
`
Usage
`
result = Input[$]( n [, [#]filenum ] )
`
Parameters
`n`
Number of bytes to read.
`filenum`
File number of a bound file or device.
Return Value
Returns a `String` of the characters read.
Description
Reads a number of characters from the console, or a bound file/device specified by `filenum`.
The first version waits for and reads `n` characters from the keyboard buffer. Extended keys are not read. The characters are not echoed to the screen.
The second version waits for and reads `n` characters from a file or device. The file position is updated.
Note: Using `Input()` is dedicated to Input Access file mode, but it is also allowed in Binary/Random Access file mode with some restrictions on the values of `n` (for random mode, `n` must be equal to the record length set by the LEN clause (or implicit value) in the OPEN statement).
Example
`
Print "Select a color by number"
Print "1. blue"
Print "2. red"
Print "3. green"
Dim choice As String
Do
choice = Input(1)
Loop Until choice >= "1" And choice <= "3"
`
Dialect Differences

- The string type suffix "$" is required in the -lang qb dialect.
- The string type suffix "$" is optional in the -lang fblite dialect.
- The string type suffix "$" is ignored in the -lang fb dialect, warn only with the -w suffix compile option (or -w pedantic compile option).

Differences from QB

- None in the -lang qb dialect.

See also

- `Winput()`
- `GetKey`
- `Inkey`