6.1.0695
ACCEPT
 
CORE
 
( c-addr +n1 -- +n2 )

Receive a string of at most +n1 characters. An ambiguous condition exists if +n1 is zero or greater than 32,767. Display graphic characters as they are received. A program that depends on the presence or absence of non-graphic characters in the string has an environmental dependency. The editing functions, if any, that the system performs in order to construct the string are implementation-defined.

Input terminates when an implementation-defined line terminator is received. When input terminates, nothing is appended to the string, and the display is maintained in an implementation-defined way.

+n2 is the length of the string stored at c-addr.

See:
A.6.1.0695 ACCEPT.

Rationale:
Specification of a non-zero, positive integer count (+n1) for ACCEPT allows some implementors to continue their practice of using a zero or negative value as a flag to trigger special behavior. Insofar as such behavior is outside the standard, Standard Programs cannot depend upon it, but the committee doesn't wish to preclude it unnecessarily. Because actual values are almost always small integers, no functionality is impaired by this restriction.

It is recommended that all non-graphic characters be reserved for editing or control functions and not be stored in the input string.

Because external system hardware and software may perform the ACCEPT function, when a line terminator is received the action of the cursor, and therefore the display, is implementation-defined. It is recommended that the cursor remain immediately following the entered text after a line terminator is received.

Testing:
CREATE ABUF 80 CHARS ALLOT

: ACCEPT-TEST
     CR ." PLEASE TYPE UP TO 80 CHARACTERS:" CR
     ABUF 80 ACCEPT
     CR ." RECEIVED: " [CHAR] " EMIT
     ABUF SWAP TYPE [CHAR] " EMIT CR
;

T{ ACCEPT-TEST -> }T