void GetTextItem(DialogPtr theDialog, short itemNumber, Str255 text)

{

    Handle  iHandle;

    Rect    box;

    int     iType;

    GetDItem(theDialog,itemNumber,&iType,&iHandle,&box);

    GetIText(iHandle,text);

}

#define ASK_ALERT   500

#define OK_BTN      1

#define CANCEL_BTN  2

#define CREATOR_STR 3

short GetCreator(char creator[4])

{

    DialogPtr   dp;

    short       item;

    Str255      createStr;

    short       i;

    dp = GetNewDialog(ASK_ALERT,nil,(WindowPtr)-1);

    ModalDialog(nil,&item);

    if(item == CANCEL_BTN) goto bail;

    GetTextItem(dp,CREATOR_STR,createStr);

    if(createStr[0] < 4) {

        Msg("\pYou Must enter at least 4 characters.");

        goto bail;

    }

    for(i = 0; i < 4; i++)

        creator[i] = createStr[i + 1];

bail:

    DisposeDialog(dp);

    /* Do three events to update windows behind */

    MainEvent();

    MainEvent();

    MainEvent();

    return item;

}