NAME

ckpath - display a prompt; verify and return a pathname

SYNOPSIS

ckpath [-Q] [-W width] [-a|l] [-b|c|g|y] [-n|[o|z]]  [-rtwx]
[-d default]
[-h help] [-e error] [-p prompt] [-k pid [-s signal]]

errpath [-W] [-a|l] [-b|c|g|y] [-n|[o|z]] [-rtwx] [-e error]
helppath [-W] [-a|l] [-b|c|g|y] [-n|[o|z]] [-rtwx] [-h help]
valpath [-a|l] [-b|c|g|y] [-n|[o|z]] [-rtwx] input

DESCRIPTION

ckpath prompts a user and validates the response. It defines, among other things, a prompt message whose response should be a pathname, text for help and error messages, and a default value (which will be returned if the user responds with a carriage return). The pathname must obey the criteria specified by the first group of options. If no criteria is defined, the pathname must be for a normal file that does not yet exist. If neither -a (absolute) or -l (relative) is given, then either is assumed to be valid. 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 will be 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 NOTES) will be displayed. Three visual tool modules are linked to the ckpath command. They are errpath (which formats and displays an error message), helppath (which formats and displays a help message), and valpath (which validates a response). These modules should be used in conjunction with FACE objects. In this instance, the FACE object defines the prompt. The options and arguments for this command are:

-Q Specifies that quit will not be allowed as a valid response.

-W Specifies that prompt, help and error messages will be formatted to a line length of width.

-a Pathname must be an absolute path.

-l Pathname must be a relative path.

-b Pathname must be a block special file.

-c Pathname must be a character special file.

-g Pathname must be a regular file.

-y Pathname must be a directory.

-n Pathname must not exist (must be new).

-o Pathname must exist (must be old).

-z Pathname must have a length greater than 0 bytes.

-r Pathname must be readable.

-t Pathname must be creatable (touchable). Pathname will be created if it does not already exist.

-w Pathname must be writable.

-x Pathname must be executable.

-d Defines the default value as default. The default is not validated and so does not have to meet any criteria.

-h Defines the help messages as help.

-e Defines the error message as error.

-p Defines the prompt message as prompt.

-k Specifies that process ID pid is to be sent a signal if the user chooses to abort.

-s Specifies that the process ID pid defined with the -k option is to be sent signal signal when quit is chosen. If no signal is specified, SIGTERM is used.

input

Input to be verified against validation options.

EXIT CODES

0 = Successful execution
1 = EOF on input
2 = Usage error
3 = User termination (quit)
4 = Mutually exclusive options

NOTES

The text of the default messages for ckpath depends upon the criteria options that have been used. An example default prompt for ckpath (using the -a option) is:

   Enter a pathname [?,q]:

An example default error message  (using the -a option) is:

ERROR - Invalid pathname entered. A pathname is a filename, optionally preceded by parent directories.

An example default help message is:

   A pathname is a  filename,  optionally  preceded  by  parent
   directories.  The pathname you enter:
   - must contain 1 to {NAME_MAX} characters
   - must not contain a spaces or special characters
NAME_MAX is a system variable  that  is  defined  in  limits.h.
When  the  quit  option  is chosen (and allowed), q is returned
along with the return code 3.  The valpath module will not pro-
duce  any output.  It returns zero for success and non-zero for
failure.