Ask-once NPM | npm.io

ask-once

Only ask a question one time and store the answer.

Install

Install with npm

$ npm i ask-once --save

Usage

var ask = require('ask-once')();

Ask a question

ask.once('May I have your username?', function (err, answer) {
  console.log(answer);
});

The user's answer is saved, and the question won't be asked again unless:

force: true is passed on the options, or
the answer is deleted directly

FAQ

Where are the answers stored?

The user's answers are saved on a global config store that is uniquely identified to the application using ask-once.

Can I change where answers are stored?

Yes, you can pass the name of a data-store with the cwd option set to whatever you want it to be. Here's an example:

// pass the name of a data-store, so you can use
// whatever storage location you want
var ask = require('ask-once')({
  store: {
    name: 'foo',
    cwd: 'bar'
  }
});

ask.once('May I have your username?' function (err, answer) {
  console.log(answer);
});

Docs

options

To re-ask questions or reset the stored values:

options.force: will re-ask the given question or questions, regardless of whether or not previously stored values exists.
options.init: will delete the entire store and start over again.

API

Ask

Returns a question-asking function that only asks a question if the answer is not already stored, or if forced.

Params

options {Object}
options.questions {Object}: (optional) Options to be passed to question-cache
options.store {Object}: (optional) Options to be passed to data-store

Example

var ask = new Ask({questions: questions});

.set

Set answer key with the given value. Answers are cached in memory on the ask.answers.data object, and they are also persisted to disk.

Params

key {String}

Example

ask.set('a', 'b');
console.log(ask.answers.data.a)
//=> 'b'

.get

Get answer key from the answer store.

Params

key {String}

Example

ask.set('a', 'b');
ask.get('a');
//=> 'b'

.del

Delete an answer from the answer store.

Params

key {String|Array|Object}: Pass a string or array of keys, or {force: true} to wipe out the entire store.

Example

ask.del('foo');
ask.del(['foo', 'bar']);
// delete the entire store
ask.del({force: true});

.once

Ask a question only if the answer is not already stored. If the answer is passed on the options the question is bypassed and the answer is be returned.

Params

question {String}: Key of the question to ask.
options {Object}: Answers or options to force re-asking questions.
cb {Function}: Callback function with err and answer.

Examples

First time the program is run, the user is prompted to answer a question:

Additional runs of the program will skip prompting the user:

Passing the init option will delete all the stored answers and prompt the user to answer the question again:

Additional runs after clearing the stop will return the newly saved answer:

Passing the force option will force the question to be asked:

Additional runs after forcing the question, will return the newly saved answer:

Related projects

data-store: Easily get, set and persist config data. | homepage
inquirer: A collection of common interactive command line user interfaces. | homepage
question-cache: A wrapper around inquirer that makes it easy to create and selectively reuse questions. | homepage
question-helper: Template helper that asks a question in the command line and resolves the template with… more | homepage