Asking for input with timeout (Shell scripting)

[Klaas D. Eenkhoorn]

Dear All,

I have a question about shell scripting, how can i ask for input from a user with a timout ? For example: I want to ask the user if he/she wants to start changing his/her password but if he/she does not respond within 10 sec by pressing a key the script shoud continue.

Kl@@s

[Chris Wilshaw · Accepted solution]

you can use the "line" command for this

line -t 10

will wait for a response, then force continuation of the script if nothing is done by the user.

[Mark Grant]

Try this

Only timing out a "read" is difficult so use this script to return a read. In other words, call this script "tmoutread" and then withion your script go

result=`tmoutread`

#!/bin/sh
( sleep 3; kill $$ )&
read result
kill $!
echo $result

Change the value of sleep to extend the timeout