diff --git a/NAMESPACE b/NAMESPACE
index afc1b39..816fc08 100644
--- a/NAMESPACE
+++ b/NAMESPACE
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ export(computeIndLogml)
 export(computePersonalAllFreqs)
 export(computeRows)
 export(etsiParas)
+export(inputdlg)
 export(isfield)
 export(laskeMuutokset4)
 export(learn_simple_partition)
diff --git a/R/inputdlg.R b/R/inputdlg.R
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c803ddc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/R/inputdlg.R
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+#' @title Gather user input
+#' @description Replicates the functionality of the homonymous function in Matlab (sans dialog box)
+#' @param prompt Text field with user instructions
+#' @param dim number of dimensions in the answwers
+#' @param definput default value of the input
+#' @export
+inputdlg <- function(prompt, definput=NULL, dims=1) {
+    if (!is.null(definput)) {
+        prompt <- append(prompt, paste0(" (default: ", definput, ")"))
+    }
+    input_chr <- readline(paste0(prompt, ": "))
+    if (input_chr == "") input_chr <- definput
+    input_chr_or_num <- tryCatch(
+        as.numeric(input_chr), warning = function(w) input_chr
+    )
+    return(input_chr_or_num)
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/man/inputdlg.Rd b/man/inputdlg.Rd
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0df8bad
--- /dev/null
+++ b/man/inputdlg.Rd
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+% Generated by roxygen2: do not edit by hand
+% Please edit documentation in R/inputdlg.R
+\name{inputdlg}
+\alias{inputdlg}
+\title{Gather user input}
+\usage{
+inputdlg(prompt, dims = 1, definput = NULL)
+}
+\arguments{
+\item{prompt}{Text field with user instructions}
+
+\item{definput}{default value of the input}
+
+\item{dim}{number of dimensions in the answwers}
+}
+\description{
+Replicates the functionality of the homonymous function in Matlab (sans dialog box)
+}