Thread: Clearing the screen

Since there seem to be no newbies to ask the question for the next couple of days I thought I'd do it.

How can I clear the screen in text mode? I'm using WindowsXP but I want to make real kewl DOS games. (wait that's too much information, ignore that last sentence)

straight from the FAQ.
Ill let you off this time as u may have had trouble accessing it.

1.0 CLEARING THE SCREEN: (Credit: robwhit)
OPTION 1

put this at the top of your source file:
#include <conio.h>

put this where you want the screen to clear:
clrscr();

Advantages:
Works fast. Simple.

Disadvantages:
Only DOS compilers have this function.

OPTION 2

putchar some newlines until everything is scrolled off of the screen.

Advantages:
It works.

Disadvantages:

The screen isn't always the same size, even in text modes, so there could be more lines than you think are there. (And its slow and hackish.)

OPTION 3

Use a text-mode library like curses or a port of it or something like that.

Advantages:
Portable, provided that you have the library

Disadvantages:
You have to get the library

OPTION 4

Write directly to video memory, clearing all the bits.

Advantages:
It works.

Disadvantages: Some OSs don't allow you to directly access hardware, finding out how to write to video memory can be a pain, don't expect it to be too portable...

OPTION 5

For all UNIX systems, using curses:

#include <curses.h>



void clrscr()

{

static int init;

if (init == 0)

{

initscr();

init = 1;

}

clear();

refresh();

}


OPTION 6

Throw the monitor out the window

Advantages:
Pretty fail-proof
Releases your anger

Disadvantages:
No more monitor.
If you forgot to unplug it, other computer peripherals might follow it in a racing frenzy
You have to open the window and take the screen out (the mesh thingie that keeps bugs out.... supposedly...)
(Note from webmaster: Not portable. Difficult to write code to throw monitor out window.)

WINDOWS OPTION: (Credit: Sunlight)

Just call the function clrscr(). Simple as that.

#include <windows.h>



void clrscr()

{

COORD coordScreen = { 0, 0 };

DWORD cCharsWritten;

CONSOLE_SCREEN_BUFFER_INFO csbi;

DWORD dwConSize;

HANDLE hConsole = GetStdHandle(STD_OUTPUT_HANDLE);



GetConsoleScreenBufferInfo(hConsole, &csbi);

dwConSize = csbi.dwSize.X * csbi.dwSize.Y;

FillConsoleOutputCharacter(hConsole, TEXT(' '), dwConSize, coordScreen, &cCharsWritten);

GetConsoleScreenBufferInfo(hConsole, &csbi);

FillConsoleOutputAttribute(hConsole, csbi.wAttributes, dwConSize, coordScreen, &cCharsWritten);

SetConsoleCursorPosition(hConsole, coordScreen);

}

Originally posted by tgm
Since there seem to be no newbies to ask the question for the next couple of days I thought I'd do it.

How can I clear the screen in text mode? I'm using WindowsXP but I want to make real kewl DOS games. (wait that's too much information, ignore that last sentence)

XP is trying to do away with DOS for system stability as they think of it as Dead Operating System (those bastards).
go tell them those people who ask to learn Windows Programming instead.

here's a taste of bios int 10h programming:

Code:

...

;clearing the screen:

mov  ax , 0600h
mov  bh , 07
mov  cx , 0000
mov  dx , 184fh
int  10h

...

_____
toaster

Originally posted by -KEN-
The skunkmeister lives!

all hail to thy skunkmeister!

_____
toaster

TGM, is it just me, or are some people thick-headed?

P.S. Everyone, it was a joke. He doesn't really need to know how to clear the screen.

WTF, this bug is really ........ing me off.

hey, watch your language!
there could be 13 year olds wandering in this board!
spare thy virgin ears!
no offense, by the way.
don't take it seriously.

back to the topic:
I suppose they know how to use a FAQ board, right?

_____
toaster

Hehehehe.

That was amusing. I thought the post was quite sarcastic in tone. I guess I'll have to try harder from now on. I'll be deleting this thread shortly.

Well, as you're deleting the thread anyway - I thought it was hilarious!

My all time favorite option...

credit quzah
Maybe if you shake it, side to side, like an etch-a-sketch...

Hahahaha

OK, deleting the post is on hold.