thanks to both of you! exactly what i was looking for.

if any other beginner comes across this issue, here is the extended little example code:
Quote:
menu channel {
-
testdialog: { .timerkhcd 1 0 cdialog }
}
alias cdialog { dialog -md testdia testdia }

dialog testdia {
size -1 -1 200 200
edit "" 1, 10 10 80 60, multi return autovs
button "read" 2, 80 80 30 20
edit "" 3, 100 10 80 60, multi return autovs
}

on *:dialog:testdia:sclick:2: {
var %create
var %i = 1
while (($did(testdia,1,%i) != $null) && (%i < 5)) {
if (%i == 1) { %create = $did(testdia,1,%i) }
else { %create = %create $+ $chr(59) $+ $did(testdia,1,%i) }
inc %i
}
didtok testdia 3 59 %create
set %testdiavar %create
}