# Whiptail basic usage

Each file ypu create must be made executable, with the following command the file will be executable by using sh ./demo.sh

chmod 744 demo.sh

# Run file: sh ./demo.sh

To run the file without out having to put sh in front of the filename:

chmod 777 demo.sh

# Run file: ./demo.sh

# Code Server for Creating Scripts

VS Code-server that is running on port :4444 on webally.co.za is perfect for creating these scripts, you can create the files and then run them in the built in terminal to test them, if you're not using code-server yet, then you should really stop not using code-server! Here is the install instructions for code-server Then also have a look at

Code-Server Extensions
Code-Server as Service
I'm creating these scripts in /srv/scripts.
Run it by using ./ before the filename if the location is not along the PATH.

# Display a basic dialog box

For a quick test to see if whiptail is working, enter the following command

message="Today, we will learn about Whiptail."
whiptail --msgbox --title "Intro to Whiptail" "$message" 10 50

Create a file named query.sh with the following content

# Part 1 - Query for the user's name
NAME=$(whiptail --inputbox "What is your name?" 8 39 --title "Getting to know you" 3>&1 1>&2 2>&3)
                                                                        
exitstatus=$?
if [ $exitstatus = 0 ]; then
echo "Greetings," $NAME
else
echo "User canceled input."
fi

echo "(Exit status: $exitstatus)"

#Part 2 - Query for the user's country

COUNTRY=$(whiptail --inputbox "What country do you live in?" 8 39 --title "Getting to know you" 3>&1 1>&2 2>&3)
                                                                       
exitstatus=$?
if [ $exitstatus = 0 ]; then
echo "I hope the weather is nice in" $COUNTRY
else
echo "User canceled input."
fi

echo "(Exit status: $exitstatus)"

Okay so that was some input fields, now for some yes/no

create tuesday.sh with the following content

if (whiptail --title "Is it Tuesday?" --yesno "Is today Tuesday?" 8 78); then
    echo "Happy Tuesday, exit status was $?."
else
    echo "Maybe it will be Tuesday tomorrow, exit status was $?."

fi

The --yesno box option also permits us to edit the content of the "Yes" and "No" fields. Here is an example:

if (whiptail --title "Is it Tuesday?" --yesno "Is today Tuesday?" 8 78 --no-button "Not Tuesday" --yes-button "Tuesday"); then
echo "Happy Tuesday, exit status was $?."
else
echo "Maybe it will be Tuesday tomorrow, exit status was $?."
fi

One last thing. Whiptail sends the user's input to stderr. Yes, you read that correctly: stderr, and

Here is the phrase for doing that:

3>&1 1>&2 2>&3

Explanation:

Create a file descriptor 3 that points to 1 (stdout) Redirect 1 (stdout) to 2 (stderr) Redirect 2 (stderr) to the 3 file descriptor, which is pointed to stdout Here is how it looks in a script snippet from the above --inputbox example:

NAME=$(whiptail --inputbox "What is your name?" 8 39 --title "Getting to know you" 3>&1 1>&2 2>&3)

Here's a list of the primary box options available for whiptail:

--title
--infobox
--msgbox
--yesno
--inputbox
--passwordbox
--menu
--textbox
--checklist
--radiolist
--gauge