Thread: changing colors

Why isn't this code working properly?

Code:

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

int main()

{
	int a;
	int b;

	for ( ; ; )
	{

	cout << "Enter two numbers: "
		 << "one for a background and one for text" << endl;

	cin >> a;
	cin >> b;

	system ("color ab");

	}

	return 0;

}

Because you're sending "ab" instead of the values in a and b.
Try:

Code:

#include <sstream>
...
stringstream ss;
ss << "system " << a << b;
system(ss.str().c_str());

Code:

#include <sstream>
...
stringstream ss;
ss << "system " << a << b;
system(ss.str().c_str());

Isn't there an easier way than doing that? I don't want to use <sstream>.

looks like your going to have to do it with sstream... I tried playing around with the coding using the "system("color");" command and I couldn't figure out how to throw a variable into it...

Code:

#include <iostream>
#include <string.h>
using namespace std;

int main()

{
	char a[2];
	char b[1];

  
	cout << "Enter two numbers: "
		 << "one for a background and one for text" << endl;

	cin.getline(a, 2, '\n');
	cin.getline(b, 1, '\n');

                 strcat(a, b); 
  
	system("color 4B"); //Unable to enter variables into this line of code... 
          //I just threw a hex number in to display how it works w/o a variable.

  system("PAUSE");
	return 0;

}

I tried playing with using the strcat and strcpy, also without any results. Now you got me curious also on how to input variables into system(const *char) lines.

Originally posted by volk

Code:

#include <sstream>
...
stringstream ss;
ss << "system " << a << b;
system(ss.str().c_str());

Isn't there an easier way than doing that? I don't want to use <sstream>.

Yeesh, how much easier can it get?
Don't want to use stringstream? Why not? You can easily convert digits to hex using a stringstream as well.

Originally posted by Geo-Fry
i dont know if this would work or not, but if you want to take the time to right it out you could do a switch

Code:

switch(a)
{
  case 1:
  switch(b)
  {
    case 1:
    //whatever color here  
    break;
    case 2:
    //whatever color here  
    break;
    case 3:
    //whatever color here  
    break;
    //all the way to F
  }
  case 2:
  switch(b)
  {
     //and so on....

but that would be awfully tedious
but the good news is you wont have to use sstream

*Gasp* you won't have to use sstream!? That IS good news!

*smacks head* I can't believe it was that easy! lol.