stdin problem

Rich36 has asked for the wisdom of the Perl Monks concerning the following question:

I've currently got a text interface. I want the user to be able to input a single character without pressing return.

For example,

I've been trying to figure out a way to set $/ to make it work, but I haven't been able to figure out how yet.

print qq(Please enter a character: );
$/ = ???;
my $ans = <STDIN>;
undef $/;
print qq(\nYour character is '$ans'\n);
[download]

Should yield (but doesn't...)

Please enter a character: x
Your character is 'x'
[download]

Any help would be appreciated.

Comment on stdin problem Select or Download Code

Replies are listed 'Best First'.
(jeffa) Re: stdin problem by jeffa (Bishop) on Oct 10, 2001 at 01:31 UTC
`use strict; use Term::ReadKey; print qq(Please enter a character: ); ReadMode 'cbreak'; my $ans = ReadKey(0); ReadMode 'normal'; print qq(\nYour character is '$ans'\n);<p>` [download] jeffa	[reply] [d/l]
Re: (jeffa) Re: stdin problem by Rich36 (Chaplain) on Oct 10, 2001 at 01:53 UTC
Thanks very much. That worked great. I wouldn't have even known to look for that module... Rich36	[reply]
perldoc -q is your friend by Fletch (Bishop) on Oct 10, 2001 at 22:02 UTC
`perldoc -q key` eventually will show the following (which mentions `Term::ReadKey` in adition to other mechanisms): `Found in /usr/lib/perl5/5.6.1/pod/perlfaq5.pod How can I read a single character from a file? From the keyboard?` [download]	[reply] [d/l]
Re: stdin problem by kschwab (Vicar) on Oct 10, 2001 at 01:28 UTC
One idea is Term::ReadKey. "perldoc -q keyboard" might give some others.	[reply]