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



NNAAMMEE
       dd..aasskk   -  Prompts the user to select a GRASS data base file from among
       files displayed in a menu on the graphics monitor.
       _(_G_R_A_S_S File Management Program)

SSYYNNOOPPSSIISS
       dd..aasskk hheellpp
       dd..aasskk eelleemmeenntt==_n_a_m_e_,_d_e_s_c_r_i_p_t_i_o_n [pprroommpptt=="_m_e_s_s_a_g_e"]

DDEESSCCRRIIPPTTIIOONN
       _d_._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 mapset search
       path.  After _d_._a_s_k is invoked with needed parameters, the mouse becomes
       active  and  a  menu  containing files of the specified _e_l_e_m_e_n_t type is
       displayed on the user's graphics monitor.  The user is prompted by  the
       prompt "_m_e_s_s_a_g_e" to select one of the listed file names with the mouse.
       Specifically, the query that appears to the user takes the form:


       DDoouubbllee click on the _p_r_o_m_p_t "message" DDoouubbllee click here to cancel


       (A list of files of the specified _e_l_e_m_e_n_t type from each of the mapsets
       listed in the user's mapset search path is also displayed.)



       After  the  user  responds,  the mouse is deactivated and the displayed
       menu is erased from the screen (leaving	any  underlying  materials  on
       display	intact).   Three  lines  are  written  to standard output (the
       user's terminal screen):


       nnaammee==_f_i_l_e___n_a_m_e mmaappsseett==_m_a_p_s_e_t___n_a_m_e ffuullllnnaammee==_f_i_l_e___n_a_m_e_@_m_a_p_s_e_t___n_a_m_e




   PPaarraammeetteerrss::
       eelleemmeenntt==_n_a_m_e_,_d_e_s_c_r_i_p_t_i_o_n
	      Name of a GRASS data  base  element,  followed  by  a  one  word
	      description  of the element. GRASS data base elements are mapset
	      subdirectories; these  include:  bdlg,  cats,  cell,  cell_misc,
	      cellhd,	colr,	colr2,	 dig,  dig_ascii,  dig_att,  dig_cats,
	      dig_plus, dlg, group, hist, icons, noise, paint, site_lists, and
	      windows.	 The _d_e_s_c_r_i_p_t_i_o_n will be used to display an error mes-
	      sage to the screen if no files of the named element  type  exist
	      in  the  user's  mapset  search path.  The prompt "_m_e_s_s_a_g_e" will
	      appear in the pop-up menu displayed on the user's graphics moni-
	      tor.  The files listed in the menu will be of the specified _e_l_e_-
	      _m_e_n_t type, and exist in mapsets listed  in  the  user's  current
	      mapset search path.

       pprroommpptt==
	      A  brief	message with which the user will be prompted.  If this
	      message contains more than  one  word,  it  should  be  enclosed
	      within  double quotes ("").  It is a non-selectable message dis-
	      played in the menu bar of a pop-up menu.	 Selectable  items  in
	      the  displayed menu include a cancel option and any of the files
	      in the mapset subdirectory _n_a_m_e  in  the	user's	mapset	search
	      path.


EEXXAAMMPPLLEE
       Given the following input,


       dd..aasskk eelleemmeenntt==cell,raster pprroommpptt=="raster map layer to be used"



       _d_._a_s_k  will  prompt  the user to select a raster (cell) file from among
       those listed in the "cell" directories of the  mapsets  listed  in  his
       current	mapset	search	path.  A  pop-up menu will be displayed on the
       user's graphics monitor, containing the prompt:


       DDoouubbllee click on the _r_a_s_t_e_r map layer to be used DDoouubbllee  click  here  to
       cancel


OOUUTTPPUUTT
       If  the	user selects a file name from the displayed menu, _d_._a_s_k writes
       three lines to standard output:


       nnaammee==_f_i_l_e___n_a_m_e mmaappsseett==_m_a_p_s_e_t___n_a_m_e ffuullllnnaammee==_f_i_l_e___n_a_m_e_@_m_a_p_s_e_t___n_a_m_e



       The output is in the form of /bin/sh 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 type requested
       by _d_._a_s_k), _m_a_p_s_e_t to the GRASS mapset in which this file  resides,  and
       _f_u_l_l_n_a_m_e to the name of the file and its mapset.


       If the user elects not to select a file but instead chooses the "Double
       click here to cancel" option, the mouse	will  be  deactivated  and  no
       variable assignments will be returned to standard output.


       If  no files of the specified _e_l_e_m_e_n_t type are found in the user's cur-
       rent mapset search path, the mouse is activated and the following  mes-
       sage is displayed on the user's graphics monitor:


       NNoo _e_l_e_m_e_n_t description files found CClliicckk hheerree ttoo ccoonnttiinnuuee




NNOOTTEESS
       Parameter values (the _e_l_e_m_e_n_t name and description, and _p_r_o_m_p_t message)
       cannot be supplied to _d_._a_s_k interactively; they must be supplied on the
       command line or from a file.

SSEEEE AALLSSOO
       _g_._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_,

       _g_._m_a_p_s_e_t_s

BBUUGGSS
       This  program  calls  other GRASS programs which may generate confusing
       error messages. Example: an error message from the program d.menu  will
       appear if a nonexistent map element is chosen.

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

       _L_a_s_t _c_h_a_n_g_e_d_: _$_D_a_t_e_: _2_0_0_2_/_0_1_/_2_5 _0_5_:_4_5_:_3_2 _$



GRASS 5.0							      d.ask(1)
