def inputWto(strPrompt,timeOut,mp3Prompt):
#   purpose:  to read a string from the keyboard
#   Parm1:    char str to be used as a prompt
#             if "" then a "?" is used
#   Parm2:    N the timeOut period (in seconds)
#               set to 3 sec if <1 or >120
#   Parm3:    mp3 audio to play while waiting
#               can be audio/typing_l.mp3
#             (not available yet)
#   returns:
#   Return1:  the string that was read) or "" null String
#   Return2   returns True (else False if timed out)

#   NOTE:    The "select" function waits for input efficiently
#            I presume that it sleeps while waiting for timeWait
#   NOTE:    It ONLY works if you click at the
#              bottom of  the RUN window before your keystrokes
#   source:  www.pymotw.com/2/select
#  Repository: 174.html/IX_package_py_py.txt

    if strPrompt=="-h" :
        print("inputWto is a function that accepts keyboard input from")
        print(" a user")
        print("  e.g.")
        print(' reply,isNull =inputWto("prompt",3,"name.mp3"')
        print

    if mp3Prompt=="" :
        pass
    else :
        pass
        # the following sounds are played before the
        # input is requested (not during)  Why???
        #       uncomment the following to "sound" the typing prompt
        #control_audioTV("typing_3.mp3")
    #end if
    
    prompt=strPrompt
    #print("The prompt is supposed to be:")

    if type(timeOut)==str: timeWait=int(timeOut)
    if type(timeOut)==int: timeWait=timeOut
    if ((timeWait<1) or (timeWait>120)): timeWait=7
    
    if prompt=="" :
        pass          #leave an empty prompt unchanged
    else:
        #             show them how long they have to respond
        strippedTimeWait=str(timeWait)
        prompt=prompt+"("+strippedTimeWait+"s):"
    #end if
    print(prompt, end='')               #accept the response on the same line
    

    progName="in function inputWto.py"

    #by D@CC on 2021BFeb17 tested successfully
    #        changed 2021GJul07  and fully tested
    # using Thonny on a Raspberry Pi 4B
    # 2 instances of Thonny cannot run simultaneously
    # using Terminal pi@raspberrypi:~ $ python3 Wait_Select_Stdin.py

    #This program waits N seconds for the operator to enter a string.
    #This program runs (but Times Out) if no Keyboard is plugged in.
    #This program runs using the RDC (Remote Desktop Connection) keyboard.

    #print("Click in the RUN window below, then. . . .")
    #print("You have", timeOut," seconds to type any string (then hit Enter).")

    rlist, wlist, xlist = select([sys.stdin], [], [], timeWait)
    # the two [] could contain other input lines e.g. serial ports
    #print("rlist:",rlist)
    if rlist:
        # the thread goes through here if a keyboard is active
        #   meaning it exists but nothing has been typed yet
        #   If nothing is typed, after timeWait seconds
        #   rlist will be empty.  The programmer should print
        #   the prompt phrase here
        #rlist contains garbage but . . .
        #print("This string was returned from select():",rlist)
        isKeyBoardActive=True
        if len(prompt)==0 :
            prompt="?"
        bStr=input("")
        if len(bStr)==0: isKeyBoardActive=False
        #print("This string was typed on the Key-Board:",bStr)
        #Enter produced something like this in rlist
        # <thonny.plugins.cpython.cpython_backend.FakeInputStream
        #             object at 0xb66ff950>
    else:
        #print("in func. "select" it Timed Out")
        isKeyBoardActive=False
        bStr=""
    #if end
    #if isKeyBoardActive:
        #print("bStr:","'",bStr,"'")
    #if end
    #print("program will continue from here.")
    return bStr, isKeyBoardActive
    #From:
    # https://stackoverflow.com/questions/6179537/python-wait-x-secs-for-a-key-and-continue-execution-if-not-pressed

    # PYthon3 Notes re select()
    # https://docs.python.org/3/library/select.html
    #def end inputWto  Desktop/Python/inputWto.py
    #/inputWto.py      Desktop/Python/inputWto.py
#def end inputWto.py
#/inputWto_py.txt