Can I use a dialog to get parameters for a do-file?

[Steinar Bjørnæs]

I have a do-file reading and writing into a small group of catalogs. There are several such groups, and I am trying to write a dialog asking which group - so I don't have to edit the do-file for every run. My aim was to start the dialog from inside the do-file, select which group of catalogs should be used, and click OK to make the do-file continue. The dialog commands set a couple of global macros, which are then picked up by the do-file and "translated" into complete paths.
Now, my dialog itself is working - but I have found no way to make the do-file stop and wait for the dialog commands to run. After loading/displaying the dialog box, the do-file just continues without the input from the dialog, and then the dialog commands pop up later.
- Is there a way to make the do-file wait, or am I completely on the wrong track? I have noticed that dialogs originally are meant to be inserted into the User menu ...
- Is there another way of making the do-file ask for input?

[Joseph Coveney]

- Is there another way of making the do-file ask for input?

I've only played with Stata's menu dialogues briefly and so can't say about them, but you can use something like

display in smcl as text "Enter catalogue" _request(answer)

in a while loop that repeats until a null answer (carriage return only) is entered (control then goes to a continue, break to exit the loop).

[Sergiy Radyakin]

Dear Steinar,

yes, you can do a lot with Stata dialogs. An earlier version of ADePT software was implemented as a wizard-type Stata dialog, see e,g, this (outdated) manual:
http://siteresources.worldbank.org/I...5/ADePT_SP.pdf

For comparison, the present interface is much more flexible (implemented in C#):
http://siteresources.worldbank.org/I...c_collated.png

On your questions:

1) The trick to do would be to reformulate your program from this pattern:
do--dlg--do--dlg--do
to this pattern:
dlg--do-dlg-do-dlg

2) Do files may ask for input from the command line, see the (rarely used nowadays) option _request() of the display command as Joseph suggested;
You can use plugins, plugins are executed modaly
You can start external programs.


Best, Sergiy

[Steinar Bjørnæs]

Joseph, I wasn't aware of that option.
Sergiy, I tried starting my job with the command "db <dialogname>" instead of with "do <dofilename>", and started the do-file as the last command in the dialog. Works perfectly.
Thank you, both!

-SteinarB.