CKPATH(1) User Commands CKPATH(1)

NAME

ckpath, errpath, helppath, valpath - display a prompt; verify and
return a pathname

SYNOPSIS

ckpath [-Q] [-W width] [-a | l] [-b | c | f | y]
[-n [o | z]] [-rtwx] [-d default] [-h help]
[-e error] [-p prompt] [-k pid [-s signal]]


/usr/sadm/bin/errpath [-W width] [-a | l] [-b | c | f | y]
[-n [o | z]] [-rtwx] [-e error]


/usr/sadm/bin/helppath [-W width] [-a | l] [-b | c | f | y]
[-n [o | z]] [-rtwx] [-h help]


/usr/sadm/bin/valpath [-a | l] [-b | c | f | y]
[-n [o | z]] [-rtwx] input

DESCRIPTION

The ckpath utility prompts a user and validates the response. It
defines, among other things, a prompt message whose response should
be a pathname, text for help and error messages, and a default value
(which is returned if the user responds with a RETURN).


The pathname must obey the criteria specified by the first group of
options. If no criteria is defined, the pathname must be for a normal
file that does not yet exist. If neither -a (absolute) or -l
(relative) is given, then either is assumed to be valid.


All messages are limited in length to 79 characters and are formatted
automatically. Tabs and newlines are removed after a single white
space character in a message definition, but spaces are not removed.
When a tilde is placed at the beginning or end of a message
definition, the default text is inserted at that point, allowing both
custom text and the default text to be displayed.


If the prompt, help or error message is not defined, the default
message (as defined under EXAMPLES) is displayed.


Three visual tool modules are linked to the ckpath command. They are
errpath (which formats and displays an error message on the standard
output), helppath (which formats and displays a help message on the
standard output), and valpath (which validates a response).

OPTIONS

The following options are supported:

-a
Pathname must be an absolute path.


-b
Pathname must be a block special file.


-c
Pathname must be a character special file.


-d default
Defines the default value as default. The default is
not validated and so does not have to meet any
criteria.


-e error
Defines the error message as error.


-f
Pathname must be a regular file.


-h help
Defines the help message as help.


-k pid
Specifies that process ID pid is to be sent a signal if
the user chooses to quit.


-l
Pathname must be a relative path.


-n
Pathname must not exist (must be new).


-o
Pathname must exist (must be old).


-p prompt
Defines the prompt message as prompt.


-Q
Specifies that quit is not allowed as a valid response.


-r
Pathname must be readable.


-s signal
Specifies that the process ID pid defined with the -k
option is to be sent signal signal when quit is chosen.
If no signal is specified, SIGTERM is used.


-t
Pathname must be creatable (touchable). Pathname will
be created if it does not already exist.


-w
Pathname must be writable.


-W width
Specify that prompt, help and error messages be
formatted to a line length of width.


-x
Pathname must be executable.


-y
Pathname must be a directory.


-z
Pathname must have a file having a size greater than
zero bytes.

OPERANDS

The following operand is supported:

input
Input to be verified against validation options.

EXAMPLES

The text of the default messages for ckpath depends upon the
criteria options that have been used.

Example 1: Default prompt

An example default prompt for ckpath (using the -a option) is:


example% ckpath -a
Enter an absolute pathname [?,q]

Example 2: Default error message

An example default error message (using the -a option) is:


example% /usr/sadm/bin/errpath -a
ERROR: A pathname is a filename, optionally preceded by parent
directories.
The pathname you enter: - must begin with a slash (/)

Example 3: Default help message

An example default help message (using the -a option) is:


example% /usr/sadm/bin/helppath -a
A pathname is a filename, optionally preceded by parent directories.
The pathname you enter: - must begin with a slash (/)

Example 4: The quit option

When the quit option is chosen (and allowed), q is returned along
with the return code 3. Quit input gets a trailing newline.

Example 5: Using the valpath module

The valpath module will produce a usage message on stderr. It returns
0 for success and non-zero for failure.


example% /usr/sadm/bin/valpath
usage: valpath [-[a|l][b|c|f|y][n|[o|z]]rtwx] input
.
.
.

EXIT STATUS

The following exit values are returned:

0
Successful execution.


1
EOF on input, or negative width on -W option, or usage error.


2
Mutually exclusive options.


3
User termination (quit).


4
Mutually exclusive options.

SEE ALSO

signal.h(3HEAD), attributes(7)

November 4, 2005 CKPATH(1)