Problem with BackSpace character

[stdq]

Hi, everyone. I am trying to write the following program: initially, all the fields which will be filled by the user appears on the screen; then, the first field to be filled is name. So, before using scanf to read in the name, I want to make the cursor go back to beggining of the underlines that follow the name field:

#include <stdio.h>

int main(void)
{
    int i;
    char name[25];

    printf("USER INFO:\n");
    printf("Name: _________________________"); //25 underlines
    printf("  Age: __"); //2 underlines
    printf("  Address: _________________________"); //25 underlines
    printf("    Phone 1: ________"); //8 underlines
    for(i = 1 ; i <= 81  ; i++)
    {
        printf("%c", 8);
    }
    scanf("%s", name);

    return 0;
}

So, I am using the backspace character to go back in the text - however, it stops at the begging of the line it started going back, and even when I add more backspaces, it still doesn't go back to the line above - so, is it possible to accomplish such task?

Thanks in advance!

[quzah]

You will need some console specific functions for that. This will depend on your OS/compiler/3rd party libraries (like ncurses).


Quzah.

[stdq]

I see, thanks.

[Adak]

In Windows, you can use the windows API function named SetConsoleCursorPosition().

So each field would have a row and column value saved in a COORD() struct that SetConsoleCursorPosition() would use.

Of course, you'll need to include the <windows.h> header in your program. I'd use a nested COORD's, in the struct, or simple descriptive variables, to hold the values.

Could be just as simple as:

int name_x=2, name_y=1;

So the first space in that field would be row 1, column 2.

Generally, coming from DOS and Turbo C, I have used the conio.h header a lot for this kind of programming, but conio.h is not a standard header, and unlikely to ever become one (it's quite similar to ncurses).

The Windows API functions for this, are much more "standard" nowadays.

Give that a shot. If this has your head spinning, I'll help you sort out the kinks to get this working. It's not as hard as it may sound, really.

[AndrewHunter]

You may find some value with adrianxw's console tutorial-Part 2. Additionally, a very good source for windows programming is Forger's Win32Tutorial.

[Adak]

A simple example, placing a puzzle on a certain row and column

/* shows how to use SetConsoleCursorPosition(), in Windows */

#include <stdio.h>
#include <windows.h>

void Gotoxy(int x, int y); 
void showIt(void);
int a[81] = {
{1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9},
{4,5,6,7,8,9,1,2,3},
{7,8,9,1,2,3,4,5,6},
{0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0},
{0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0},
{0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0},
{2,1,4,3,6,5,8,9,7},
{3,6,5,8,9,7,2,1,4},
{8,9,7,4,1,2,3,6,5}
};

int main(void) {
  showIt();

  return 0;
}

void Gotoxy(int x, int y) {
   COORD coord;
   coord.X = x;
   coord.Y = y;
   SetConsoleCursorPosition(GetStdHandle(STD_OUTPUT_HANDLE), coord);
}
void showIt(void)  {
  int i;
  Gotoxy(10,5);
  for(i = 0; i < 81; i+=9)  {
     printf("  | %d%d%d | %d%d%d | %d%d%d |\n", a[i+0],a[i+1],a[i+2],a[i+3],a[i+4],a[i+5],a[i+6],a[i+7],a[i+8]);
     if(i == 18 || i == 45) printf("  +-----+-----+-----+\n");
  }
}

[AndrewHunter]

Adak,

I would like to tell you that your examples have always helped me out the most. Thank you for your time.

[Adak]

Thank you Andrew.

You've certainly been very generous with your own time, helping out in the forum. I'm sure the OP will find the links you posted up, very helpful.