NAME
Term::RawInput - A simple drop-in replacement for <STDIN> in scripts
with the additional ability to capture and return the non-standard keys
like 'End', 'Escape' [ESC], 'Insert', etc.
SYNOPSIS
use Term::RawInput;
my $prompt='PROMPT : ';
my ($input,$key)=('','');
($input,$key)=rawInput($prompt,0);
print "\nRawInput=$input" if $input;
print "\nKey=$key\n" if $key;
print "Captured F1\n" if $key eq 'F1';
print "Captured ESCAPE\n" if $key eq 'ESC';
print "Captured DELETE\n" if $key eq 'DELETE';
print "Captured PAGEDOWN\n" if $key eq 'PAGEDOWN';
DESCRIPTION
I needed a ridiculously simple function that behaved exactly like
$input=<STDIN> in scripts, that captured user input and and populated a
variable with a resulting string. BUT - I also wanted to use other KEYS
like DELETE and the RIGHT ARROW key and have them captured and returned.
So I really wanted this:
my $prompt='PROMPT : '; ($input,$key)=rawInput($prompt,0);
... where I could test the variable '$key' for the key that was used to
terminate the input. That way I could use the arrow keys to scroll a
menu for instance.
I looked through the CPAN, and could not find something this simple and
straight-forward. So I wrote it. Enjoy.
The second argument to rawInput() is optional, and when set to 1 or any
positive value, returns all keys instantly, instead of waiting for
ENTER. This has turned out to be extremely useful for creating command
environment "forms" without the need for curses. See Term::Menus and/or
Net::FullAuto for more details.
NOTE: When the second argument is 0 or not used, BACKSPACE and TAB are
not captured - but used to backspace and tab. DELETE is captured. Also,
no Control combinations are captured - just the non-standard keys
INSERT, DELETE, ENTER, ESC, HOME, PAGEDOWN, PAGEUP, END, the ARROW KEYS,
and F1-F12 (but *NOT* F1-F12 with Windows Version of Perl - especially
Strawberry Perl [ This is a limitation of the Term::ReadKey Module. ];
but, works with Cygwin Perl!). All captured keys listed will terminate
user input and return the results - just like you would expect using
ENTER with <STDIN>.
AUTHOR
Brian M. Kelly <Brian.Kelly@fullautosoftware.net>
COPYRIGHT
Copyright (C) 2011-2014 by Brian M. Kelly.
This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it
under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License.
(http://www.gnu.org/licenses/agpl.html).