Thread: Keyboard input without waiting (Borland C++)

I am currently writing a game demo in Borland C++, as I wish to become a games programmer in the near future. The demo is going to be a space battle simulation where you rotate and thrust in 3D space, with the aim of detroying the enemy ship, b4 the opposite occurs!!! My question is this:

"How does C++ detect the keyboard input at a precise moment, without waitng for a key to be pressed - ie. returning a value of 0 (or likewise) if no key is being pressed at that instant??"

The getch function is absolotely hopeless as it waits for a keypress (not much good for games)!!

Can anyone help?

Thanx, Ad...

You'll have to forgive me, am a bit new to C++, although am v familiar with programming - think I'm using OWL API.

What does API stand for - does it allow me to utilise the keyboard in the way I want?

I'm confused!!!

Thanx, think that's exactly what I'm looking for. Am using Borland 5.02 and it's in the Windows API. How do you actually use the function, is it just a case of:

#include <relevantHeader.h>

if (GetAsyncKeyState()==codeForRequiredKey)
statementBlock

or am I naive to think it could be quite that straight-forward?!!

Cheers, Ad.

PS: keep smoking!!

Excellent, that seems to be working a treat now (finally realised that you've gotta include windows.h - duh!!)

So, have now got thrust & rotation working, so that the position and velocity vectors alter accordingly as you move through 3-Space. Hehe.

One curious thing happens, though. On compilation, the keys work fine, but if you click in the programme window, they cease to work - anyone know what this could be?

Cheers for the help. Ad.