Eng:Ask () and Wait (block)

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Ask () and Wait
Category	Sensing
Type	Stack
Introduced in	1.4

The Scratch Cat asking a question

The Ask () and Wait block is a Sensing block and a Stack block. The block will make an input box (with the specified text above it) show at the bottom of the screen. Scratchers can input text into it and submit it, and the input is stored then in the Answer block. The Answer block automatically updates to most recent input.

This block and the answer block appear obsolete in versions of Scratch under 1.4, because they were only introduced in 1.4.

Example Uses

As this block allows users to input any text they want, it is widely used when a user must communicate with the project.

Some common uses for the Ask () and Wait block:

• Chatbots

— receiving information from the user

ask [What's your name?] and wait
say (join [Hello, ] (join (answer) [.]))

• Setting preferences

— coordinates, color, and so on

ask [Color?] and wait
set [color v] effect to (answer)

• Receiving input

— asking the user to give a command

ask [Move how many steps?] and wait
move (answer) steps

Workaround

Main article: List of Block Workarounds

Sensing Method

This block can be somewhat replicated with the following code:

say (question)
delete (all v) of [answer v]
set [count v] to [0]
repeat until <<touching [mouse-pointer v]?> and <mouse down?>>
if <key [a v] pressed?> then
change [count v] by (1)
insert [A] at (count) of [answer v]
end
if <key [b v] pressed?> then
change [count v] by (1)
insert [B] at (count) of [answer v]
end
if <key [c v] pressed?> then
change [count v] by (1)
insert [C] at (count) of [answer v]
end
if <key [d v] pressed?> then
change [count v] by (1)
insert [D] at (count) of [answer v]
end
if <key [e v] pressed?> then
change [count v] by (1)
insert [E] at (count) of [answer v]
end
if <key [f v] pressed?> then
change [count v] by (1)
insert [F] at (count) of [answer v]
end
if <key [g v] pressed?> then
change [count v] by (1)
insert [G] at (count) of [answer v]
end
if <key [h v] pressed?> then
change [count v] by (1)
insert [H] at (count) of [answer v]
end
if <key [i v] pressed?> then
change [count v] by (1)
insert [I] at (count) of [answer v]
end
if <key [j v] pressed?> then
change [count v] by (1)
insert [j] at (count) of [answer v]
end
if <key [k v] pressed?> then
change [count v] by (1)
insert [K] at (count) of [answer v]
end
if <key [l v] pressed?> then
change [count v] by (1)
insert [L] at (count) of [answer v]
end
if <key [m v] pressed?> then
change [count v] by (1)
insert [M] at (count) of [answer v]
end
if <key [n v] pressed?> then
change [count v] by (1)
insert [N] at (count) of [answer v]
end
if <key [o v] pressed?> then
change [count v] by (1)
insert [O] at (count) of [answer v]
end
if <key [p v] pressed?> then
change [count v] by (1)
insert [P] at (count) of [answer v]
end
if <key [q v] pressed?> then
change [count v] by (1)
insert [Q] at (count) of [answer v]
end
if <key [r v] pressed?> then
change [count v] by (1)
insert [R] at (count) of [answer v]
end
if <key [s v] pressed?> then
change [count v] by (1)
insert [S] at (count) of [answer v]
end
if <key [t v] pressed?> then
change [count v] by (1)
insert [T] at (count) of [answer v]
end
if <key [u v] pressed?> then
change [count v] by (1)
insert [U] at (count) of [answer v]
end
if <key [v v] pressed?> then
change [count v] by (1)
insert [V] at (count) of [answer v]
end
if <key [w v] pressed?> then
change [count v] by (1)
insert [W] at (count) of [answer v]
end
if <key [x v] pressed?> then
change [count v] by (1)
insert [X] at (count) of [answer v]
end
if <key [y v] pressed?> then
change [count v] by (1)
insert [Y] at (count) of [answer v]
end
if <key [z v] pressed?> then
change [count v] by (1)
insert [Z] at (count) of [answer v]
end
if <key [0 v] pressed?> then
change [count v] by (1)
insert [0] at (count) of [answer v]
end
if <key [1 v] pressed?> then
change [count v] by (1)
insert [1] at (count) of [answer v]
end
if <key [2 v] pressed?> then
change [count v] by (1)
insert [2] at (count) of [answer v]
end
if <key [3 v] pressed?> then
change [count v] by (1)
insert [3] at (count) of [answer v]
end
if <key [4 v] pressed?> then
change [count v] by (1)
insert [4] at (count) of [answer v]
end
if <key [5 v] pressed?> then
change [count v] by (1)
insert [5] at (count) of [answer v]
end
if <key [6 v] pressed?> then
change [count v] by (1)
insert [6] at (count) of [answer v]
end
if <key [7 v] pressed?> then
change [count v] by (1)
insert [7] at (count) of [answer v]
end
if <key [8 v] pressed?> then
change [count v] by (1)
insert [8] at (count) of [answer v]
end
if <key [9 v] pressed?> then
change [count v] by (1)
insert [9] at (count) of [answer v]
end
if <key [right arrow v] pressed?> then
change [count v] by (1)
end
if <key [left arrow v] pressed?> then
change [count v] by (-1)
end
if <key [space v] pressed?> then
change [count v] by (1)
insert [] at (count) of [answer v]
end
wait (0.001) secs
end
say []

Note:

This does not work perfectly. See this project for more information.

The list "answer" will replace the answer block.

Hat Block Method

Text input can be retrieved in correct order and speed by using this method.

when [a v] key pressed
add [a] to [queue v]

when [b v] key pressed
add [b] to [queue v]

when [c v] key pressed
add [c] to [queue v]

//and so forth for each key

when [left arrow v] key pressed
delete (last v) of [queue v] // backspace function

when gf clicked
delete (all v) of [queue v]
wait until <key [right arrow v] pressed?> // this will confirm the user is done inputting
set [clump v] to [] // blank
set [n v] to [1]
repeat (length of [queue v]) // compile list into a single string
set [clump v] to (join (clump) (item (n) of [queue v])
change [n v] by (1)
end

(clump) // will be the answer

Cancellation

To cancel the text box that appears once this block is activated; one must use the Stop All block. The project can be continued as normal by using a When [Timer v] > () block.

An example of when one might want to cancel the text box is if an answer is not received in a certain amount of time, or if a cancel button is pressed.

A common method of cancellation:

when green flag clicked
set [variable v] to [0]

set [variable v] to [1]
reset timer
stop [all v] // As soon as this block is activated the text box will disappear, so place this where the text box should disappear
when [timer v] > (0.1)
if <(variable) = [0]> then
stop [this script v]
end
... // Continue here as normal

An example of this can be found here.

See Also

• Answer (block)
• Answer (value)