MATLAB: How to implement a timer dependent input request in MATLAB

inputMATLABpausetimeouttimerwait

I would like to interactively request an input from the user of my application, but unlike INPUT I want to limit the time for giving the answer and automatically continue the program if nothing is inserted.

Best Answer

This kind of input request is not possible using INPUT or other functions in MATLAB 7.5 (R2007b).
To work around this issue, the following function may be used:
function output = timeinput(t,default_string)
% TIMEINPUT
% Input arguments:  
% t - time delay
% default_string - string which is returned if nothing is entered
%

% Examples:
% If a string is expected
%   x = timeinput(20,'no input')
% If a number is expected
%   x = str2num(timeinput(20,'1'))
%
if nargin == 1
   default_string = '';
end
% Creating a figure
h = figure('CloseRequestFcn','','Position',[500 500 200 50],'MenuBar','none',...
    'NumberTitle','off','Name','Please insert...');
% Creating an Edit field
hedit = uicontrol('style','edit','Units','pixels','Position',[10 15 180 20],'callback','uiresume','string',default_string);
% Defining a Timer object
T = timer('Name','mm', ...
   'TimerFcn','uiresume', ...
   'StartDelay',t, ...
   'ExecutionMode','singleShot');
% Starting the timer
start(T)
uiwait(h)
% Defining the return value
output = get(hedit,'String');
% Deleting the figure
delete(h)
% Stopping and Deleting the timer
stop(T)
delete(T)
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