I developed a pure Batch file solution that works perfectly. The input is defined via a mask comprised of several characters that specify the input format at each input position. The method used in this program may be used as base for other similar data-input routines for Batch files.
EDIT 2014-09-23: I modified the original routine in order to use a standard input method and added some additional features. I also improved the presentation of the input fields.
EDIT 2014-09-28: I added a couple modifications suggested by foxidrive and dbenham, besides some others of my own.
Code: Select all
@echo off
rem ReadFormattedLine.bat: Read a line from keyboard with specific format
rem Antonio Perez Ayala
cls
echo Read a line from keyboard with specific format
echo/
echo call :ReadFormattedLine var="mask" [/M "message"] [/P] [/A^|/W^|/F]
echo/
echo The mask specify valid input characters per position via the following chars:
echo/
echo # - Any digit
echo _ - Any letter
echo + - A letter that is converted to uppercase
echo ? - Any letter or digit
echo @ - Letter or digit, convert letter to uppercase
echo/
echo The following characters are just displayed/inserted at their positions:
echo $ / \ ( ) [ ] : ; , . - space letters digits
echo/
echo Any character in the mask different than previous ones cause an error.
echo/
echo If /P (password) switch is given, input characters are displayed as asterisks.
echo/
echo Normally the input is completed when Enter key is pressed after read at least
echo one character, but the following switches changes this behavior.
echo/
echo /A (auto): Input is auto-completed after the last character; Enter key
echo is ignored.
echo /W (whole): Enter key is accepted at first or last input positions only,
echo that is, when input is empty or whole.
echo /F (fields): Enter key fills the field with spaces and move the cursor to
echo the next input field in the line.
echo/
echo To input a whole value terminated by Enter, use /W switch and insert any
echo character at the first position in the mask.
echo/
echo/
echo Some examples:
echo/
setlocal
rem Define the following variable before call the subroutine
set "thisFile=%~F0"
call :ReadFormattedLine test="(_-#-+-#-_)" /M "Enter (_-#-+-#-_): " /W
echo Read: "%test%"
echo/
call :ReadFormattedLine number="#####" /M "Enter a number of up to 5 digits: "
echo Number: "%number%"
echo/
call :ReadFormattedLine pass="########" /M "Enter your password (8 digits): " /P /A
echo Password: "%pass%"
echo/
call :ReadFormattedLine phone="(###)###-####" /M "Enter the telephone with area code: " /W
echo Telephone: "%phone%"
echo/
call :ReadFormattedLine RFC="[++++-######-@@@]" /M "Enter your RFC [4letters-6digits-3alpha]: " /W
echo RFC: "%RFC%"
echo/
call :ReadFormattedLine timeStamp="####/##/## HH:MM: ##:##" /M "Enter a time-stamp. YYYY/MM/DD: " /W
echo Time-stamp: "%timeStamp%"
echo/
call :ReadFormattedLine name="+_______________ Last name: +_______________" /M "First name: " /F
echo Name: "%name%"
echo/
echo Enter the list of IP addresses
echo (press Enter in an empty line to end the list)
set i=0
:nextIP
set /A i+=1
call :ReadFormattedLine IP[%i%]="###.###.###.###" /M "%i%- " /W
if defined IP[%i%] goto nextIP
set /A n=i-1
echo/
echo IP addresses read: %n%
set IP[
echo/
echo/
echo End of examples
pause
goto :EOF
:ReadFormattedLine var="mask" [/M "message"] [/P] [/F /W /A]
if "%~2" equ "" echo ERROR: Missing parameters & exit /B 1
setlocal EnableDelayedExpansion
set "var=%~1"
set "mask=%~2"
shift & shift
set "message="
if /I "%1" equ "/M" set "message=%~2" & shift & shift
set "password="
if /I "%1" equ "/P" set "password=1" & shift
set "switch=%~1"
set quote="
set "digit= 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "
set "letter= A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z "
set "alphaNum=%digit%%letter%"
set "fmt=#_+?@"
set "show=$/\()[]:;,.- %digit: =%%letter: =%"
for /F %%a in ('copy /Z "%thisFile%" NUL') do set "CR=%%a"
for /F %%a in ('echo prompt $H ^| cmd') do set "BS=%%a" & set "SP=.%%a "
< NUL (
set /P "=%message%"
for /F "eol=| delims=" %%a in ('cmd /U /C echo !mask!^| find /V ""') do (
if "!fmt:%%a=!" neq "%fmt%" (
set /P "=Û"
) else if "%%a" neq " " (
set /P "=%%a"
) else (
set /P "=!SP!"
)
)
set /P "=!SP!!CR!%message%"
)
set "input="
set /A i=0, key=0
goto checkFormat
:nextKey
set "key="
for /F "delims=" %%a in ('xcopy /W "%thisFile%" "%thisFile%" 2^>NUL') do if not defined key set "key=%%a"
if "!key:~-1!" neq "!CR!" goto endif
if /I "%switch%" equ "/A" goto nextKey
if /I "%switch%" neq "/F" goto check/W
:nextField
set "format=!mask:~%i%,1!"
if "%format%" equ "" goto endRead
if "!fmt:%format%=!" equ "%fmt%" goto checkFormat
set /P "=Û" < NUL
set "input=%input% "
set /A i+=1
goto nextField
:check/W
if /I "%switch%" neq "/W" goto checkEmpty
if %i% equ 0 goto endRead
if "%format%" equ "" goto endRead
goto nextKey
:checkEmpty
if %i% gtr 0 goto endRead
goto nextKey
:endif
set "key=!key:~-1!"
if "!key!" equ "!BS!" (
if %i% gtr 0 (
if "%format%" equ "" (
set /P "=!SP!!BS!!BS!Û!BS!" < NUL
) else (
set /P "=Û!BS!!BS!Û!BS!" < NUL
)
set "input=%input:~0,-1%"
set /A i-=1
if !i! equ 0 set key=0
)
goto checkFormat
)
if "%format%" equ "" goto nextKey
if "!key!" equ "=" goto nextKey
if "!key!" equ "!quote!" goto nextKey
if "%format%" equ "#" ( rem Any digit
if "!digit: %key% =!" equ "%digit%" goto nextKey
) else if "%format%" equ "_" ( rem Any letter
if "!letter: %key% =!" equ "%letter%" goto nextKey
) else if "%format%" equ "+" ( rem Any letter, convert it to uppercase
if "!letter: %key% =!" equ "%letter%" goto nextKey
for %%a in (%letter%) do if /I "!key!" equ "%%a" set "key=%%a"
) else (
rem Rest of formats are alphanumeric: ? @
if "!alphaNum: %key% =!" equ "%alphaNum%" goto nextKey
if "%format%" equ "@" ( rem Convert letters to uppercase
for %%a in (%letter%) do if /I "!key!" equ "%%a" set "key=%%a"
) else if "%format%" neq "?" echo ERROR: Invalid format in mask: "%format%" & exit /B 2
)
)
if defined password (
set /P "=*" < NUL
) else (
set /P "=%key%" < NUL
)
set "input=%input%%key%"
:nextFormat
set /A i+=1
:checkFormat
set "format=!mask:~%i%,1!"
if "%format%" equ "" (
if /I "%switch%" equ "/A" goto endRead
if /I "%switch%" equ "/M" goto endRead
goto nextKey
)
if "!show:%format%=!" neq "%show%" (
if "!key!" equ "!BS!" (
if "%format%" neq " " (
set /P "=%format%!BS!!BS!Û!BS!" < NUL
) else (
set /P "=!SP!!BS!!BS!Û!BS!" < NUL
)
set "input=%input:~0,-1%"
set /A i-=1
if !i! equ 0 set key=0
goto checkFormat
) else (
if "%format%" neq " " (
set /P "=%format%" < NUL
) else (
set /P "=!SP!" < NUL
)
set "input=%input%%format%"
goto nextFormat
)
)
if "%input:~-1%!key!" equ " !BS!" (
set /P "=Û!BS!!BS!" < NUL
set "input=%input:~0,-1%"
set /A i-=1
goto checkFormat
)
goto nextKey
:endRead
echo/
endlocal & set "%var%=%input%"
exit /B
Antonio
