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L2P2: Text in boxes
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# Lab 2: Part 2: Text in boxes
## Note on Labelling
The sub-tasks in this section are marked
Partner A or
Partner B to indicate how to work on them
as a pair and when you should switch "drivers." One of the members of
your team should be writing code for the parts marked
Partner A and then the other member should
write code for the parts marked Partner B,
to ensure you both get hands-on practice with today's concepts. If you
happen to be in a team of 3, just switch who is writing code for each
different segment, but make sure all members of the team get a chance to
write code. You may have to dictate some code to each other when one part
depends on a previous part, but we've arranged the parts to minimize
this. Of course, whoever is not writing code should be helping out by
suggesting things to try and helping to proofread the code that's being
written.
## Overview
You'll first start with built-in python functions
[`input`](/reference/builtins#input) and
[`len`](/reference/builtins#len), and then combine those functions to
draw boxes around a user-supplied sentence.
## Task A: Get comfy with `input`
The python built-in function [`input`](/reference/builtins#input) allows
you to ask the user for input. Here is a [list of all the built-in Python
functions](https://docs.python.org/3/library/functions.html) and here is
[our quick-reference page for the built-in functions you'll need in this
course](/reference/builtins).
Try this:
```py
input('Type your name')
```
produces this:
```py
Type your name # notice that python is waiting for you to respond
```
Note: you can add an arrow to the prompt, if you like, and it's usually
useful to add a space at the end of the prompt, so that the user doesn't
naturally type a space themselves, which would count as part of their
input:
```py
input('Type your name ==> ')
```
produces
```py
Type your name ==> # waiting for you to type something and hit return
```
Let's say the user types `Selena`. In order to refer to `Selena` later in
your program, you'll need to save it in a variable.
### Task A1
Partner A
Write a couple of lines of Python that asks the user for their name, and then
prints a friendly greeting. Here are some examples.
+ Example 1: the user types `Selena`
Your name? ==> Selena
Hi, Selena, welcome to cs111!
+ Example 2: the user types `Calvin and Hobbes`
Your name? ==> Calvin and Hobbes
Hi, Calvin and Hobbes, welcome to cs111!
### Task A2
Partner B
Another useful built-in python function is
[`len`](/reference/builtins#len). `len` tells you how long a given string is.
For example,
+ ```py
len('hello')
```
evaluates to 5 and...
+ ```py
len('chocolate cake')
```
evaluates to 14
(spaces and punctuation count).
Write a couple of lines of python that asks the user for their thoughts,
and then prints the length of the user's thoughts. Below are some
examples of how your program should work:
+ Example 1: the user types `Selena`
Your thoughts? ==> Selena
6
+ Example 2: the user types `Sometimes you feel like a nut`
Your thoughts? ==> Sometimes you feel like a nut
29
Now that you are familiar with both [`input`](/reference/builtins#input)
and [`len`](/reference/builtins#len), we can do something a bit more
complex.
## Task B: Draw a box around the user input
Partner A
In this task, you will write a short Python program that asks the user to
provide a string, and then prints a box of asterisks (*) around the string.
Below are three different examples of what your program should do:
Sample 1:
Enter a string ==> Hi
**************
* Hi *
**************
Sample 2:
Enter a string ==> Lovely day today
****************************
* Lovely day today *
****************************
Sample 3:
Enter a string ==> Sometimes you feel like a nut
*****************************************
* Sometimes you feel like a nut *
*****************************************
Let's take another a close look at Sample 3 above.
There should be 5 spaces of padding on either side of the string in the
box (see enlarged image below). Note that your program should work
correctly regardless of the length of the provided string.
## Task C: Draw a box around TWO user inputs
Partner B
In this task, the user is asked TWICE to provide strings. Your program
will produce a box around both lines of text, with 5 spaces of padding around
the longer string in the box. See examples below.
Hint: You will need Python's built-in [`max`](/reference/builtins#max)
function.
```py
>>> max(10, 2)
10
>>> max(2, 25)
25
```
Example 1:
Enter your first string ==> happy
Enter your second string ==> birthday to you!
****************************
* happy *
* birthday to you! *
****************************
Example 2:
Enter your first string ==> Row row row your boat
Enter your second string ==> gently
*********************************
* Row row row your boat *
* gently *
*********************************
Example 3:
Enter your first string ==> Sometimes you feel like a nut
Enter your second string ==> Sometimes you do not
*****************************************
* Sometimes you feel like a nut *
* Sometimes you do not *
*****************************************
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