INPUT - Get a string from the keyboard

 Purpose:    Get a string from the keyboard and save it in an environment 
             variable. 
             
 Format:     INPUT [/C /D /E /Ln /N /P /Wn /X] [prompt ] %%varname 
             
             prompt :  Optional text that is displayed as a prompt. 
             varname :  The variable that will hold the user's input. 
             

             /C(lear buffer)                 /N(o colors) 
             /D(igits only)                  /P(assword) 
             /E(dit)                         /W(ait) 
             /L(ength)                       /X (no carriage return) 
 
 See also:  INKEY. 

 Usage 

 INPUT optionally displays a prompt.  Then it waits for a specified time 
 or indefinitely for your entry.  It places any characters you type into 
 an environment variable.  INPUT is normally used in batch files and 
 aliases to get multi-key input.  Along with the INKEY command, INPUT 
 allows great flexibility in reading user input from within a batch file 
 or alias. 

 If prompt text is included in an INPUT command, it is displayed while 
 INPUT waits for input.  Standard command-line editing keys may be used to 
 edit the input string as it is entered.  If you use the /P password 
 option, INPUT will echo asterisks instead of the keys you type. 

 All characters entered up to, but not including, the carriage return are 
 stored in the variable. 

 The following batch file fragment prompts for a string and stores it in 
 the variable FNAME: 

 
         input Enter the file name:  %%fname
 

 INPUT reads standard input, so it will accept text from a redirected 
 file. 

 If you press Ctrl-C or Ctrl-Break while INPUT is waiting for input, 
 execution of an alias will be terminated, and execution of a batch file 
 will be suspended while you are asked whether to cancel the batch job.  A 
 batch file can handle Ctrl-C and Ctrl-Break itself with the ON BREAK 
 command. 

 You should not pipe text to INPUT.  If you do, INPUT will set the 
 variable to the first line it receives, but it will set the variable in 
 the "child" process used to handle the right hand side fo the pipe.  This 
 variable will not be available in the original copy of CMD.EXE used to 
 start the pipe. 

 Options 

    /C:     (Clear buffer) Clears the keyboard buffer before INPUT accepts 
            keystrokes.  If you use this option, INPUT will ignore any 
            keystrokes which you type, either accidentally or 
            intentionally, before INPUT is ready. 

    /D:     (Digits only) Prevents INKEY from accepting any keystroke 
            except a digit from 0 to 9. 

    /E:     (Edit) Allows you to edit an existing value.  If there is no 
            existing value for varname, INPUT proceeds as if /E had not 
            been used, and allows you to enter a new value. 

    /Ln:    (Length) Sets the maximum number of characters which INPUT 
            will accept to n.  If you attempt to enter more than this 
            number of characters, INPUT will beep and prevent further 
            input (you will still be able to edit the characters typed 
            before the limit was reached). 

    /N:     (No colors) Disables the use of input colors defined in the 
            InputColors directive in CMD.INI, and forces INPUT to use the 
            default display colors. 

    /P:     (Password) Tells INPUT to echo asterisks, instead of the 
            characters you type. 

    /Wn:    (Wait) Timeout period, in seconds, to wait for a response.  If 
            no keystroke is entered by the end of the timeout period, 
            INPUT returns with the variable unchanged.  This allows you to 
            continue the batch file if the user does not respond in a 
            given period of time.  If you enter a key before the timeout 
            period, INPUT will wait indefinitely for the remainder of the 
            line.  You can specify /W0 to return immediately if there are 
            no keys waiting in the keyboard buffer. 

    /X:     (No carriage return) Prevents INPUT from displaying a carriage 
            return and line feed after the user's entry.