# Asks

```
// Ask the user to enter a string
//      defval - the default string value. This value
//               will appear in the dialog box.
//      hist   - history id. One of HIST_... constants
//      prompt - the prompt to display in the dialog box
// Returns: the entered string.

string ask_str(string defval, long hist, string prompt);

#define HIST_SEG    1           ///< segment names
#define HIST_CMT    2           ///< comments
#define HIST_SRCH   3           ///< search substrings
#define HIST_IDENT  4           ///< names
#define HIST_FILE   5           ///< file names
#define HIST_TYPE   6           ///< type declarations
#define HIST_CMD    7           ///< commands
#define HIST_DIR    8           ///< directory names (text version only)

// Ask the user to choose a file
//      for_saving- 0: "Open" dialog box, 1: "Save" dialog box
//      mask   - the input file mask as "*.*" or the default file name.
//      prompt - the prompt to display in the dialog box
// Returns: the selected file.

string ask_file(bool for_saving, string mask, string prompt);

// Ask the user to enter an address
//      defval - the default address value. This value
//               will appear in the dialog box.
//      prompt - the prompt to display in the dialog box
// Returns: the entered address or BADADDR.

long ask_addr(long defval, string prompt);

// Ask the user to enter a number
//      defval - the default value. This value
//               will appear in the dialog box.
//      prompt - the prompt to display in the dialog box
// Returns: the entered number or -1.

long ask_long(long defval, string prompt);

// Ask the user to enter a segment value
//      defval - the default value. This value
//               will appear in the dialog box.
//      prompt - the prompt to display in the dialog box
// Returns: the entered segment selector or BADSEL.

long ask_seg(long defval, string prompt);

// Ask the user a question and let him answer Yes/No/Cancel
//      defval - the default answer. This answer will be selected if the user
//               presses Enter.
//      prompt - the prompt to display in the dialog box
// Returns: -1:cancel, 0-no, 1-ok

long ask_yn(long defval, string prompt);
```


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.hex-rays.com/9.0sp1/developer-guide/idc/idc-api-reference/alphabetical-list-of-idc-functions/288.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.