Having trouble with altering line of input.

[Reality Check]

So I have a program that starts off with a line of input. Basically the first integer in the line tells me how many more integers there will be. So if the first integer is an 11 then I will have 22 more integers to come each representing something. If its 10 then I will have 20 more integers. Now here is where I have trouble. Once the first integer has been entered, the teacher will not separate the other integers by pressing enter and then typing them, she will simply press space and continue on to type the needed integers. So a line may look like this:

11 2 1 3 5 1 8 2 1 8 2 1 8 3 8 1 2 3 8 2 4 1

So the first number is an 11 and so there are 22 numbers to follow. My question is, how do I know what the first integer is if my teacher simply presses space right after and gives me no chance of checking? My thought was to use getch and simply get the first integer, and then get the rest but then if she puts something 2 digits then it won't work. My way only works with one digit. Thanks for the help.

[Clayton]

parse the string after getting input and look for the first space. If the first character is a space, then do whatever you would do about it.

[NikG]

Just get the whole line as a string (get varname:*)

Then, depending on what you need to do with those numbers, use the index function to separate them.

Edit: looks like you beat me to it Freakman.

[Reality Check]

Thanks a lot both of you, that fixes things. Although I do need them as integers I can always convert them.