Thread: Using the arrow keys

FAQ > How do I... (Level 2) > Use directional keys in a console application

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/de...eycnt_4fqw.asp

Function/arrow keys are two-character values, 0+key or scan code

Try this program to get the values of your keys in Windows. It'll also show you a way to deal with the function keys.

Code:

#include <stdio.h>
#include <conio.h>

int main()
{
    int i;
    
    i = 0;
    while (i != 0x1B)   // exit on ESC
    {
        i = getch();
        printf("   %02X ", i);
        if (i > 0x20 && i < 0x7F)   // If printable
            printf("[%c] ", i);     // ... output the character
        if (i == 0)     // test for a function key
        {
            i = getch();
            printf("%02X ", i);
            if (i > 0x20 && i < 0x7F)
                printf("[%c] ", i);
        }
        printf("\n");
    }        
}

Yes, you could use isprint() but I wanted to limit the header files.

Also, the FAQ mentions the "other" value that a few keys use instead of 0, 0xE0 (224) which you can also look for. I forgot which keys they are for, but they may be necessary if you want to check for ALL possible keys.

if (i > 0x20 && i < 0x7F) // If printable

Why not:

if( isprint( i ) )

Of course, I guess the code is already non-portable, so why bother...

Quzah.

Originally posted by quzah
Of course, I guess the code is already non-portable, so why bother...

Quzah.

True, but that's not always a bad thing

If you have no plans to run under Linux (or others), why not. The program can operate as you want it to.

BTW, I edited my post about isprint() while you were responding. Wierd how that happens.

Originally posted by WaltP
True, but that's not always a bad thing

If you have no plans to run under Linux (or others), why not. The program can operate as you want it to.

Yeah. I just tend to toss out alternate suggestions, especially when there's a standard library functions to handle it.

Quzah.

Originally posted by quzah
Yeah. I just tend to toss out alternate suggestions, especially when there's a standard library functions to handle it.

But isn't it a fact that there is not a standard function in C/C++ to read a keystroke and process it immediately as getch() does? vVv's suggestion of tcsetattr() and (n)curses is also nonstandard.

If not and such a standard exists, what is it? I'm unfamiliar with it.

Originally posted by vVv
I believe quzah was suggesting that you can or should keep as many bits of your program portable, so you can write a couple of wrappers for non-portable pieces...

All well and good -- for experts that write in Windows, Linux, Unix, OS/2, etc.

These forums tend to be used by beginners. IMHO telling someone they can't do something because it's not standard is not helpful when in fact they can in their environment.

Punkture did not tell us his environment so you answered correctly -- in Unix/Linux...

...but since isprint() does exist and makes your code even simpler, why not use it?)

Lazy. I didn't want to have to explain how to use it and what header to load. I don't think isprint() necessarily makes it simpler, just more compact. If you've never seen isprint() before, >0x20 && < 0x7F makes more sense. After all, on my system 'print' could include 0x81 to 0xFE because my printer can handle the charset. So lack of knowledge is what I assumed.