How to read single character from screen? (unix)

[fjweaver]

does anyone know if you can read a single character from a screen without hitting the return key and without using the 'read' command.

ie: a read command like below
echo "are you sure you want to do this: 'Y/N' "
read opt
if [ $opt = "Y" ]
continue
else
exit
fi

so instead of doing the the 'read' we just want to press the 'Y' key

thanks
Frank

 

[bigoldbulldog]

This code should get you started. stty here is for HP-UX and usually differs with other systems.

#!/bin/sh

echon() {
  if [ -n "`echo -n`" ] ; then
    echo "$@\c"
  else
    echo -n "$@"
  fi
}
getkey() {
  TTYSTATE=`stty -g`
  stty raw
#   stty -echo
  key=`dd if=/dev/tty bs=1 count=1 2>/dev/null`
  stty "$TTYSTATE"
  echo "\nkey is ${key}" | cat -vu
}

echon "Press any key to continue: "
getkey

Cheers,
ND

bigoldbulldog@hotmail.com