Ruby Multi-Line Input for Only One Input

Question

I have a small program that I'm working on that at one point I would like the user to be able to input a potentially multiline response.

I've found the example with

$/ = "END"
user_input = STDIN.gets
puts user_input

But this makes all inputs require the END keyword, which I would only need for the one input.

How can I produce a multi-line input for just the one input?

The user obviously needs a way to tell you when he or she is finished. That might be an escape key, for example, or two returns in a row. You might consider using IO#getc for input. — Cary Swoveland
– Cary Swoveland, Commented Feb 10, 2015 at 22:22
The easiest way to signal "I'm finished" is with Ctrl-D. See my answer below. — user513951
– user513951, Commented Feb 11, 2015 at 1:24

Anthony · Accepted Answer · 2015-02-10 23:57:12Z

9

IO#gets has an optional parameter that allows you to specify a separator. Here's an example:

puts "Enter Response"
response = gets.chomp

puts "Enter a multi line response ending with a tab"
response = gets("\t\n").chomp

Output:

Enter Response
hello
Enter a multi line response ending with a tab
ok
how
is
this

edited Feb 10, 2015 at 23:57

answered Feb 10, 2015 at 22:21

Anthony

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3 Comments

Cary Swoveland Over a year ago

Nice one. I didn't know about that. Maybe replace "Gets has..." with IO#gets has...".

Anthony Over a year ago

Thanks Cary, included the link.

Milksnake12 Over a year ago

When I used this, it ran right over my next gets. print "Multi-line response: " response = gets("done").chomp print "One line Response: " oneLine = gets.chomp

daremkd · Accepted Answer · 2015-02-10 22:40:58Z

2

This method accepts text until the first empty line:

def multi_gets(all_text='')
  until (text = gets) == "\n"
    all_text << text
  end
  return all_text.chomp # you can remove the chomp if you'd like
end

puts 'Enter your text:'
p multi_gets

Output:

Enter your text:
abc
def

"abc\ndef"

edited Feb 10, 2015 at 22:40

answered Feb 10, 2015 at 22:28

daremkd

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Comments

Oliver Gaida · Accepted Answer · 2020-06-08 12:04:27Z

0

i use this:

in = STDIN.readline(sep="\t\n")
puts in

ends the input. For more info see https://ruby-doc.org/core-2.2.0/IO.html#method-i-readline

answered Jun 8, 2020 at 12:04

Oliver Gaida

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