asked on

text menu with default option and timeout in a shell script

Hi,

I'd like to write a little shell script which ask the user to chooce between n choice and I want that the program go on after 30 seconds for example if the user didn't choose anything.

in batch cmd I was using the choice command but as it is for beeing run under windows PE 3.0 dos command are very poor.

Thx in advance

Justin Mathews

If JScript is supported you can copy the following script into a file choice.js and run from command line as CScript choice.js:

WScript.Echo ("Select an option:");
WScript.Echo ("\t1. Option 1");
WScript.Echo ("\t2. Option 2");
WScript.Echo ("\t3. Option 3");
WScript.Echo ("\t4. Option 4");
WScript.Echo ("\t5. Option 5");

var tm = new Date().getTime();

var input = "";
while (!(input = WScript.StdIn.Read(1)).match(/[1-5]/) && (new Date().getTime() - tm) < 30*1000);

WScript.Echo(input);

Steven Carnahan

Here is a site with a workaround for the "missing" choice command in Windows PE: http://www.msfn.org/board/topic/117000-pe-20-batch-menu/

Since it sounds like you may already have the script working using choice in another version of Windows you should be able to easily modify what you have using the code on the site.

Sybux

ASKER

it's nearly working except that the wscript.stdin is blocking the execution of the script as it's waiting for an input

Justin Mathews

It will wait max of 30 sec or until user types in 1-5 and ENTER.

Sybux

ASKER

no, it wait until I press a key. I'm surprise as you.

Steven Carnahan

You can still download choice.exe. Here is a solution posted back a bit: https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/21658438/VBScript-or-Batch-file-to-create-timeout-delay.html

Sybux

ASKER