An Example Using &PAUSE

The following example contains a portion of a command list that illustrates how to request information from an operator:

&BEGWRITE SUB -ENDTEXT
.   ENTER 'GO' FOLLOWED BY YOUR LAST NAME,
.   FIRST NAME, AND MIDDLE INITIAL.
-ENDTEXT
* GET THE INPUT FROM THE USER
&PAUSE VARS &LAST &FIRST &MI

The example writes a message to the operator prompting for the last name, first name, and middle initial of the operator. The command list pauses until the operator enters a GO or RESET command. To continue processing the current command list, the operator enters the GO command followed by the string required by the command list.

If the operator enters the following command:

GO SMITH JOHN A

the value of &LAST becomes SMITH, the value of &FIRST becomes JOHN, and the value of &MI becomes A. These variables can then be used by other statements in the command list.