Scripting Guide > Common Tasks > Create an Interactive Program
Publication date: 07/08/2024

Create an Interactive Program

Using JSL, you can gather numeric input from users, perform a calculation on the input, and show the results in a new window.

Prime Numbers.jsl asks the user to enter a number and then factors the number or confirms it as a prime number (Figure 18.5). This script is a good example of aligning several types of display boxes, concatenating text, and working with conditional functions.

/* How do you gather numeric input from the users, perform a

calculation on that input, and show the results in a new window?

This script demonstrates how to create an interactive program that

asks the user to enter a number and then factors the number or confirms

it as a prime number. */

// Ask the user to enter a name and number.

nw = New Window( "Factoring Fun",
 
V List Box(
	Text Box( "Choose a number between 2 and 100, inclusive. " ),
	Spacer Box( Size( 25, 25 ) )
    ),
    V List Box(
        Lineup Box(
            2,
            Text Box( "Your name   " ),
            uname = Text Edit Box( "< name > ", << Justify Text( Center ) ),
            Text Box( "Your choice " ),
            uprime = Number Edit Box( 2 )
        ),
        Spacer Box( Size( 25, 25 ) ),
        H List Box(
            Button Box( "OK",

// Unload responses.

                username = uname << Get Text;
                fromUser0 = uprime << Get;
 

// Test input for out of range condition.

                If( fromUser0 <= 1 | fromUser0 > 100,

// Send message to user that input value is out of range.

                    nw2 = New Window( " Factoring Fun: Message for "
							|| username,
                        <<Modal,
                        Text Box(
                            "The number you chose, " || Char( fromUser0 ) ||
                            " is not between 2 and 100, inclusive.
								Please try
										again.  "
                        ),
                        Button Box( "OK" )
 
                    ),

/* Else the number is within range.

Test for a prime number. If not prime, factor it.

Create a vector which holds the prime numbers

within specified range. */

                    primes = [2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 23, 29, 31, 37,
							41, 43, 47, 53, 59, 61, 67, 71, 73, 79, 83, 89, 97];

// Count the number of primes in the vector.

                    p# = N Row( primes );
 
                    isprime = 0; // Set flag.

// Make a copy of the value for processing.

							fromuser1 = fromuser0;
                    factors = {}; // Initialize list.
 

/* Process the value by checking for prime then

factoring if needed. */

                    While( isPrime == 0,
 

// Compare value to vector of prime numbers.

                        If( Any( fromuser0 == primes ),

// If found, place value in factor list.

                            Insert Into( factors, fromUser0 );
                            isPrime = 1 // Set condition to exit While loop.
                            ;
                        ); // End For loop.
 
                        If( isprime == 0,
                            For( q = 1, q <= p#, q++,
                                If( Mod( fromuser0, primes[q] ) == 0,
                                    fromUser0 = fromUser0 / primes[q];
                                    Insert Into( factors, primes[q] );
                                    q = p# + 1 // End if-then loop.
                                    ;
                                ); // End If loop.
                            ); // End For loop.
                        );  // End If/Then loop.
 
                    ); // End while loop.
 
                    cfUser0 = Char( fromUser1 );
                    nf = N Items( factors );
                    If( nf >= 2,
                        fmsg = "The number you have chosen has the following
									factors: ",
                        fmsg = "The number you have chosen is a prime number: "
                    );

// Show message to user about results.

                    nw3 = New Window( " Factoring Fun - Your Results",
                        <<Modal,
                        Text Box( username || ", you chose: " || cfUser0 ),
                        Spacer Box( Size( 25, 25 ) ),
                        Text Box( fmsg || " " || Char( factors ) ),
                        Spacer Box( Size( 25, 25 ) ),
                        Button Box( "OK" )
                    );
                );
            ), // End the main OK button script.

// Close the window and the program.

            Button Box( "Cancel", nw << Close Window )
        )
    )
);

Figure 18.5 Factor Numbers Interactively 

Factor Numbers Interactively

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