CODEWITHSUNDEEP
c++consoleconsole-applicationcoutwindows-console
Rafay
Rafay

Reputation: 6188

Please suggest something better than gotoxy function in C++

I have written a program that consists of multiples and multiples of function each of which are printing several things on the console when control is passed to them. Now I am trying to print everything in the center of the screen rather than on the upper left corner of the screen. For that purpose, the only thing I know is the gotoxy function of Windows.h. Now this would be an extremely hectic job because I would have to place gotoxy above each "cout". Is there a way that I set the cursor to a particular position on the screen and every time anything gets printed, the printing commences from that particular position.

Upvotes: 1

Views: 1576

Answers (4)

Xeo
Xeo

Reputation: 131799

The following allows easy find-and-replace and takes care of setting the cursor to the center:

#include <iostream>

std::ostream& PrintCentered(){
  // comment in the following if you're experiencing
  // weird output due to io-buffering like @Ben says in a comment
  //std::cout.flush();
  gotoxy(your_x, your_y);
  return std::cout;
}

Now just find&replace your std::cout calls with the above function where you want it to be centered. Usage after replace should look like this:

PrintCentered() << "your message";

Upvotes: 1

user2100815
user2100815

Reputation:

Assuming you are using cout to write to, this hack should do the job:

 #define AT_CENTER( stuff ) goto( 100, 100 ); cout << stuff;

Where 100, 100 should be replaced with your specific values. Then in use:

 AT_CENTER( "The meaning of life is " << x );

Upvotes: 0

Aaron Klotz
Aaron Klotz

Reputation: 11585

  1. Don't use cout or any other stream-based I/O for drawing all over the screen. It doesn't make sense to "position" a stream if it's being redirected to a different device.
  2. Call the Win32 console functions directly, such as this example that draws a status line in a console program.

Upvotes: 2

Hyperboreus
Hyperboreus

Reputation: 32429

Write a small helper function (e.g. printCentered(std::string) ) that receives the string to be printed. This function moves the cursor to the center and then prints the parameter. Then replace your couts with a call to this function.

Upvotes: 3

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