Thread: msdos character mode console program- multiple windows

  1. #1
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    MD, USA
    Posts
    71

    msdos character mode console program- multiple windows

    Hi , I'm new here... I hope this is the correct forum , seems like it...
    I am trying to find out the options available to create 'status' and 'menu' subwindows to a main ConsoleWindow. (I guess you'd call it, I get confused between that and ConsoleScreen) I had done something similar in ncurses a few months ago.

    I have gone through the great tutorial at: 'http://www.adrianxw.dk/SoftwareSite/index.html' but he stops just short of this type of thing (hint hint). Suprisingly, I have not been able to find much more secifically on console programming. I am now trudging through msdn (again) and could use some direction!

    So far I feel I could print stuff to different areas of the screen and try to not overwrite one with the other but it seems there would be a different method. I last tried using CreateConsoleScreenBuffer for a second screen but actually messed up my laptop's video driver when sizing it different from the first screen buffer.... so I'm staying away from trying that but I am thinking about using that second buffer as an overlay and switching active...
    I don't know , msdn is overwhelming and cryptic ,, and so I'm asking...
    Thanks, Howard;

  2. #2
    and the hat of int overfl Salem's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2001
    Location
    The edge of the known universe
    Posts
    39,660
    There is an ncurses port to win32, why not use that?
    If you dance barefoot on the broken glass of undefined behaviour, you've got to expect the occasional cut.
    If at first you don't succeed, try writing your phone number on the exam paper.

  3. #3
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    MD, USA
    Posts
    71
    I'll be dog... PDCurses ...cross platform curses! - http://pdcurses.sourceforge.net/

    A look at the docs and I felt right at home.
    On my AMD K6-2 (P2) 300mhz running win98:
    I have installed pdcurses33 and have compiled and run 1 test of my own in addition to a few which come and compile with the package.
    So far it seems to be ok. It had been a while since I had done a make build so I struggled a bit with getting makefile and build directory set up right. It took me a few tries to get the command lines right as well but some perceverance paid off. (no pain - no gain). I should post their archive with my experience.

    I gotta say, after starting into C programming last year in linux/gcc I was happy to find dmc for win98. That was good, but a few months later I stumbled accross Colorado U's cs1300 mingw gcc developement implementation for their built in support of bgi graphics.h which I have been happily using ever since. (gcc in windows without cygwin!) And now to find that these guys have put together PDCurses... I tell ya , it restores my faith in humanity. Lotta dedication there! Maybe someday I could help... Thanks for the direction,
    ++Howard;
    Last edited by HowardL; 08-06-2007 at 12:59 PM.

Popular pages Recent additions subscribe to a feed

Similar Threads

  1. Replies: 11
    Last Post: 10-07-2008, 06:19 PM
  2. Using variables in system()
    By Afro in forum C Programming
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: 07-03-2007, 12:27 PM
  3. problem with open gl engine.
    By gell10 in forum Game Programming
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 08-21-2003, 04:10 AM
  4. OpenGL and Windows
    By sean345 in forum Game Programming
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 06-24-2002, 10:14 PM
  5. multiple console windows
    By gordy in forum A Brief History of Cprogramming.com
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 02-13-2002, 11:05 PM