Most well known programming languages have a built-in command to get data entered on the keyboard by the user (e.g., input, etc.) and another built-in command to send/display data to the screen (e.g., print, etc.). However, these "simple" commands SEEM nonexistent or nearly impossible in J.
For example, from "Learning J" and the Dictionary, I learned that keyboard input could be accomplished via the foreign conjunction 1!:1 1 and that output to the screen could be done via 1!:2 2. I had thought to write cover verbs along these lines: input=: 3 : 0 y entry=. 1!:1 1 ) display=: 3 : 0 y 1!:2 2 ) I thought I could then use something similar to these lines of code: d=. input 'enter something' display d However, regarding keyboard input, the Dictionary states that 1!:1 1 "read from the keyboard (does not work within a script)". Well, for pete's sake, what then DOES work within a script? Regarding keyboard output, when I use the foreign conjunction above (in the "display" cover verb) to display output, I get the following error: |rank error: display | y 1!:2 2 I get the same error with a direct call to the conjunction: |rank error: txttest | 'Hello, world!' 1!:2 2 These are usually the first and easiest commands a beginner learns in virtually every programming language. Based on the above, J seems not to fit this paradigm. This is the first time I've tried to write some somewhat interactive code in J between the user and the program. How in the world does one implement these absolutely BASIC commands in J? I'm trying to get simple user input (NOT using complicated forms) to create calls to one of several explicit verbs within a script. Any help, please, with this? Many thanks in advance! Harvey ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For information about J forums see http://www.jsoftware.com/forums.htm
