g.ask(1)	       Grass User's Manual		 g.ask(1)



NNAAMMEE
       gg..aasskk  - Prompts the user for the names of GRASS data base
       files.
       _(_G_R_A_S_S _F_i_l_e _M_a_n_a_g_e_m_e_n_t _P_r_o_g_r_a_m_)

SSYYNNOOPPSSIISS
       gg..aasskk hheellpp
       gg..aasskk	 ttyyppee==_n_a_m_e     [pprroommpptt==_"_s_t_r_i_n_g_"]     eelleemmeenntt==_n_a_m_e
       [ddeesscc==_"_s_t_r_i_n_g_"] uunniixxffiillee==_n_a_m_e

DDEESSCCRRIIPPTTIIOONN
       _g_._a_s_k  is  designed  for shell scripts that need to prompt
       the user for the name of a data base file  in  the  user's
       current	GRASS  location.   After  _g_._a_s_k  is  invoked with
       needed parameters, it will query the user for a file  name
       of  the	specified  _t_y_p_e  and  _e_l_e_m_e_n_t.	 After	the  user
       responds to this query, the program will write four  lines
       to the UNIX output file specified by _u_n_i_x_f_i_l_e.

OOPPTTIIOONNSS
   PPaarraammeetteerrss::
       ttyyppee==_n_a_m_e
	      The  type of query.  Options for _n_a_m_e are _o_l_d, _n_e_w,
	      _a_n_y, and _m_a_p_s_e_t;	their functions are given  below.
	      "New",  "any", and "mapset" only look in the user's
	      current mapset.

       oolldd    For existing data  files	anywhere  in  the  user's
	      mapset search path.

       nneeww    Used  to	create	a new file in the current mapset,
	      which must not already exist there (if a file  with
	      this  name  exists  there, it will not be overwrit-
	      ten).

       aannyy    Creates a file in the current mapset, which may  or
	      may  not	already exist there.  If a file with this
	      name exists in the current mapset, it will be over-
	      written;	if not, a new file with this name will be
	      created.

       mmaappsseett For files that must exist in the current mapset The
	      shell  write  wants the name of a file which exists
	      in the user's current mapset.  This type would used
	      instead of "old" if the file is to be modified.


       pprroommpptt==
	      The  prompt  to  be displayed to the user.  If more
	      than one word, the prompt should be enclosed within
	      double quotes ("").

       eelleemmeenntt==_n_a_m_e
	      The  name  of  the  GRASS  data base element (i.e.,
	      directory under a GRASS mapset) whose files are  to
	      be queried.

       ddeesscc==  A  short description of the data base element which
	      is meaningful to the user.  If description contains
	      more  than  one  word, it should be enclosed within
	      double quotes ("").

       uunniixxffiillee==_n_a_m_e
	      The name	of  a  UNIX  file  to  store  the  user's
	      response.   See next section for what is written to
	      this file and how it can be used by shell  scripts.


OOUUTTPPUUTT
       Upon  receiving	the  user's response to its request for a
       file name, _g_._a_s_k writes four lines to the specified  _u_n_i_x_-
       _f_i_l_e;  this  output  file  is placed in the user's current
       working directory, unless otherwise  specified,	and  con-
       tains the following lines: name='_s_o_m_e___n_a_m_e'

       mapset='_s_o_m_e___m_a_p_s_e_t'

       fullname='_s_o_m_e___f_u_l_l_n_a_m_e'

       file='_s_o_m_e___f_u_l_l_p_a_t_h'



       The output is _/_b_i_n_/_s_h commands to set the variable _n_a_m_e to
       the file name specified by the user (of	the  _e_l_e_m_e_n_t  and
       _t_y_p_e  requested	by  _g_._a_s_k), _m_a_p_s_e_t to the GRASS mapset in
       which this file resides (or will be created), _f_u_l_l_n_a_m_e  is
       the  name  with the mapset embedded in it, and _f_i_l_e to the
       full UNIX path name identifying this  file.   These  vari-
       ables may be set in the _/_b_i_n_/_s_h as follows:



       The . is a shell command which means read the _u_n_i_x_f_i_l_e and
       execute the commands found there.  It is NOT part  of  the
       _u_n_i_x_f_i_l_e name and MUST be followed by a space.

NNOOTTEESS
       The  user  may choose to simply hit the return key and not
       enter a file name.  If this happens the variables will  be
       set as follows: name=

       mapset=

       fullname=

       file=



       The following is a way to test for this case:

		 if [ ! "$file" ]
		 then
		      exit
		 fi


SSEEEE AALLSSOO
       _d_._a_s_k

       _g_._f_i_l_e_n_a_m_e

       _g_._f_i_n_d_f_i_l_e

       _g_._g_i_s_e_n_v

AAUUTTHHOORR
       Michael	 Shapiro,   U.S.Army   Construction   Engineering
       Research Laboratory

       _L_a_s_t _c_h_a_n_g_e_d_: _$_D_a_t_e_: _2_0_0_2_/_0_1_/_2_5 _0_5_:_4_5_:_3_3 _$



GRASS 5.0						 g.ask(1)
