Xref: utzoo comp.lang.c:15294 comp.unix.wizards:13928
Path: utzoo!utgpu!attcan!uunet!aablue!jb
From: jb@aablue.UUCP (John B Scalia)
Newsgroups: comp.lang.c,comp.unix.wizards
Subject: Re: printf, data presentation
Keywords: printf, terminals, fixed format screens
Message-ID: <837@aablue.UUCP>
Date: 7 Jan 89 01:00:18 GMT
References: <8332@ihpl.ATT.COM> Mike Knudsen
Reply-To: aablue!jb (John B Scalia)
Organization: A A Blueprint Co., Inc. - Akron, OH
Lines: 48

In <8332@ihpl.ATT.COM> Mike Knudsen makes a request for an INKEY type of
function similar to what is found in most BASICs.

The following code should solve your problem. It allows an INKEY() type
function that allows for multiple returns (ie. function keys), timeout if
user does not press a key, and the ability to wait forever if delay is given
as 0 :-) and the user must make some input. It will also trap every keyboard
stroke I've ever managed to give it. (At least I've not had a problem.)

--------- Cut here ----------
#include <termio.h>
#include <ctype.h>

int key_ret(deft, work)			/* Generic Keyboard input like inkey */
int 	deft;				/* Number of seconds to delay */
char	work[];				/* character string to return result */
{
	struct termio oldterm, curterm;
	int	timer, ret_code;

	timer = deft * 10;		/* timer = # of seconds to wait */

	if (ioctl (0, TCGETA, &curterm) == -1)
		return(-1);		/* Not a terminal, abort */

	oldterm = curterm;

	curterm.c_lflag &= ~ICANON;	/* canonical processing off */

	if (timer == 0)
		curterm.c_cc[VMIN] = 1;
	else {
		curterm.c_cc[VTIME] = timer;
		curterm.c_cc[VMIN] = 0;
	}
	ioctl (0, TCSETA, &curterm);

	ret_code = read (0, work, 10);

	ioctl (0, TCSETA, &oldterm);	/* restore terminal to old settings */
	return (ret_code);
}
# End of function ----------------------

This works only if your function or definable keys produce less than 10
characters, of course you may change this to any number you'd want at the
read(n,C,10) statement. Please no flames about style, etc. I wrote this so
long ago I almost forgot where in fact I had put it.