ANN: EditV32/Choose32 1.1

[Bill Stewart]

EditV32/Choose32 1.1

Home page: http://internet.cybermesa.com/~bstewart/editv.html

EditV32/EditVar and Choose32/Choose are replacements for my older
programs Getkey and Getvar. (EditV32/EditVar is superior to Getvar
because it doesn't use temporary files.)

EditV32 and Choose32 are Win32 console programs that are designed to
allow user input in shell scripts (batch files). The download also
includes MS-DOS version of both programs, EditVar and Choose, that may
be useful on DOS bootable media.

EditV32 works by obtaining the contents of an environment variable and
presenting it for interactive editing. If you make any changes to the
variable's contents and press Enter, EditV32 writes the changed variable
to the parent environment of the program that started it (usually
Cmd.exe). EditV32 requires Windows NT 4.0 or later; for Windows 9x/Me,
use the MS-DOS version.

EditV32 is similar to the Cmd.exe Set /p command in Windows 2000 and
later, but it may be preferable for the following reasons:

* It allows you to edit a variable, not just set one.
* It can limit the length of the typed variable.
* It can mask the typed input for simple password security.
* It can limit typed input to numbers only.
* It offers a timeout feature (useful when a script needs to run
unattended).
* It automatically "escapes" reserved shell characters in variables it
creates.
* It provides useful exit codes: For example, an exit code of 4 means
that the user pressed Ctrl-C to abort.
* It comes with an MS-DOS version that works in Windows 9x/Me as well as
on MS-DOS boot media.

Choose32 is similar to the Microsoft Choice tool, but it has more
features. Here are some reasons why it might be preferable to Choice:

* It doesn't beep when the user makes an invalid choice.
* It offers a "default key" feature, which lets a user press Enter to
select a default choice.
* It comes with a DOS version (useful for MS-DOS boot media).
* The Win32 version's timeout feature doesn't get confused when you run
multiple instances in separate console windows (this was a problem with
earlier Win32 console versions of Microsoft's Choice tool).
* It can suppress the display of the user's choice.
* It offers a "line input" mode where the user must press Enter after
making a choice.

 

[Admiral Q]

EditV32/Choose32 1.1

Home page: http://internet.cybermesa.com/~bstewart/editv.html

EditV32/EditVar and Choose32/Choose are replacements for my older programs
Getkey and Getvar. (EditV32/EditVar is superior to Getvar because it
doesn't use temporary files.)

EditV32 and Choose32 are Win32 console programs that are designed to allow
user input in shell scripts (batch files). The download also includes
MS-DOS version of both programs, EditVar and Choose, that may be useful on
DOS bootable media.

EditV32 works by obtaining the contents of an environment variable and
presenting it for interactive editing. If you make any changes to the
variable's contents and press Enter, EditV32 writes the changed variable
to the parent environment of the program that started it (usually
Cmd.exe). EditV32 requires Windows NT 4.0 or later; for Windows 9x/Me, use
the MS-DOS version.

EditV32 is similar to the Cmd.exe Set /p command in Windows 2000 and
later, but it may be preferable for the following reasons:

* It allows you to edit a variable, not just set one.
* It can limit the length of the typed variable.
* It can mask the typed input for simple password security.
* It can limit typed input to numbers only.
* It offers a timeout feature (useful when a script needs to run
unattended).
* It automatically "escapes" reserved shell characters in variables it
creates.
* It provides useful exit codes: For example, an exit code of 4 means that
the user pressed Ctrl-C to abort.
* It comes with an MS-DOS version that works in Windows 9x/Me as well as
on MS-DOS boot media.

Choose32 is similar to the Microsoft Choice tool, but it has more
features. Here are some reasons why it might be preferable to Choice:

* It doesn't beep when the user makes an invalid choice.
* It offers a "default key" feature, which lets a user press Enter to
select a default choice.
* It comes with a DOS version (useful for MS-DOS boot media).
* The Win32 version's timeout feature doesn't get confused when you run
multiple instances in separate console windows (this was a problem with
earlier Win32 console versions of Microsoft's Choice tool).
* It can suppress the display of the user's choice.
* It offers a "line input" mode where the user must press Enter after
making a choice.

How does or are you planning 64-bit versions of the programs?

 

[Phil Robyn]

EditV32/Choose32 1.1

Home page: http://internet.cybermesa.com/~bstewart/editv.html

EditV32/EditVar and Choose32/Choose are replacements for my older
programs Getkey and Getvar. (EditV32/EditVar is superior to Getvar
because it doesn't use temporary files.)

EditV32 and Choose32 are Win32 console programs that are designed to
allow user input in shell scripts (batch files). The download also
includes MS-DOS version of both programs, EditVar and Choose, that may
be useful on DOS bootable media.

EditV32 works by obtaining the contents of an environment variable and
presenting it for interactive editing. If you make any changes to the
variable's contents and press Enter, EditV32 writes the changed variable
to the parent environment of the program that started it (usually
Cmd.exe). EditV32 requires Windows NT 4.0 or later; for Windows 9x/Me,
use the MS-DOS version.

EditV32 is similar to the Cmd.exe Set /p command in Windows 2000 and
later, but it may be preferable for the following reasons:

* It allows you to edit a variable, not just set one.
* It can limit the length of the typed variable.
* It can mask the typed input for simple password security.
* It can limit typed input to numbers only.
* It offers a timeout feature (useful when a script needs to run
unattended).
* It automatically "escapes" reserved shell characters in variables it
creates.
* It provides useful exit codes: For example, an exit code of 4 means
that the user pressed Ctrl-C to abort.
* It comes with an MS-DOS version that works in Windows 9x/Me as well as
on MS-DOS boot media.

Choose32 is similar to the Microsoft Choice tool, but it has more
features. Here are some reasons why it might be preferable to Choice:

* It doesn't beep when the user makes an invalid choice.
* It offers a "default key" feature, which lets a user press Enter to
select a default choice.
* It comes with a DOS version (useful for MS-DOS boot media).
* The Win32 version's timeout feature doesn't get confused when you run
multiple instances in separate console windows (this was a problem with
earlier Win32 console versions of Microsoft's Choice tool).
* It can suppress the display of the user's choice.
* It offers a "line input" mode where the user must press Enter after
making a choice.

Hi, Bill, thanks for these programs! I have one question: since it is
legal to have an environment variable whose name contains one or more
spaces, is there any way for your programs to also allow this?

- - - - - - - begin screen capture WinXP MCE 2005 SP2 - - - - - - -
c:\cmd>editv32 -m my very own password
*********************

c:\cmd>set my
MY=now might be the time

c:\cmd>set very
Environment variable very not defined

c:\cmd>editv32 -m "my very own password"
Variable name contains illegal characters

c:\cmd>set my very own password=%my%

c:\cmd>set my
MY=now might be the time
my very own password=now might be the time
- - - - - - - end screen capture WinXP MCE 2005 SP2 - - - - - - -

 

[Bill Stewart]

Hi, Bill, thanks for these programs! I have one question: since it is
legal to have an environment variable whose name contains one or more
spaces, is there any way for your programs to also allow this?

Hi Phil,

Thanks for writing! The thought hadn't occurred to me. Is it also legal
in MS-DOS? (Or perhaps it should only be allowed in the Win32 version...)

Is it common to have or use variable names containing spaces?

 

[Bill Stewart]

How does or are you planning 64-bit versions of the programs?

Not at this time, because I don't have a 64-bit development system or a
64-bit compiler.

 

[Phil Robyn]

Hi Phil,

Thanks for writing! The thought hadn't occurred to me. Is it also legal
in MS-DOS? (Or perhaps it should only be allowed in the Win32 version...)

Is it common to have or use variable names containing spaces?

I don't believe it is legal in MS-DOS, so as you suggest it should only be
allowed in the Win32 version. As for commonality of use, I guess we need
to hear from others who use variable names with spaces. I usually do *not*
use such, but I guess there's no reason why not....

Best regards, and thanks again for these programs!

 

[Mark V]

I doubt it is common, but it is "legal" and so should be handled
(if possible) and IMO. Win32 only AFAICT.

I don't believe it is legal in MS-DOS, so as you suggest it
should only be allowed in the Win32 version. As for commonality
of use, I guess we need to hear from others who use variable
names with spaces. I usually do *not* use such, but I guess
there's no reason why not....

Best regards, and thanks again for these programs!

Ditto on the "Thanks Bill"

I only use forms such as
my_very_own_password
and only for readability. Still, if it's possible (embedded spaces
in var names), people will use it.

 

[Bill Stewart]

I only use forms such as
my_very_own_password
and only for readability. Still, if it's possible (embedded spaces
in var names), people will use it.

I'm convinced. I'll allow spaces in the Win32 version. Expect to see an
update later today.

Thanks for everyone's input.

 

[Bill Stewart]

EditV32/Chooose32 have been updated to version 1.2. The only change is
that EditV32 now allows spaces in the environment variable name.

 

[Admiral Q]

Not at this time, because I don't have a 64-bit development system or a
64-bit compiler.

Ok thanks - they are great for 32-bit stuff! I'm just preparing for the
future <grin>!