color text in C programming

I 'm using DEV-C++ to write my c program. And also I want to change the text color in the program in windows console environment. From my knowledge, I know that we can change 15 colors by using

SetConsoleTextAttribute (GetStdHandl(STD_OUTPUT_HANDLE),FOREGROUND_RED);

However I need more colors. I heard that curses and ncurses can do it. But in DEV-C++, there are not <curses.h> header file. And I don't really understand how to use it or if it can help me to use with more colorful text color. Also, I tried to download ncurses 5.6 and curses 1.23. However, I don't know if they are useful or not. And I don't know how to use them.

So, please help me to answer the question.
And I need a example program which can be compiled in DEV-C++. Also, I'm using windows but not unix or linux. And my knowledge is very limited, please give me more details about it. Thank you.

You probably want to use "pdcurses" if you are using Windows.

Edit: But I'm not sure you can achieve more than 16 colours there either - it is essentially a limitation of how the text-data is stored for a console application, it uses 16 bits to store the character. 8 bits indicate which character it is, and 8 bits indicate the intensity and colour (4 bits each, where the 3 low bits represent R, G and B (bits 2, 1, 0 respectively, and intensity basicaly adds 1 to each of the RGB, so intensifies the colour choosen)).

This link shows what each of 16 combinations give:
http://etricks.in/2008/03/changing-d...nd-colour.html

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Mats

Can you give me more details. Even though I'm searching about it now?

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Originally Posted by paakfaat

Can you give me more details. Even though I'm searching about it now?

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More details of what? Pdcurses, no more details from me - I have never really used it, just read others recommend it.

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Mats

After I installed, what can I do?
ok thanks. That's really a good suggestion. I think I get the right one even though I don't know how to install it

After I download pdcurses. I don't know how to use it in DEV c++. Or use it to compile programs. Also, I'm not quiet understand about the source part in the web site. So anyone can help me?
http://gnuwin32.sourceforge.net/install.html

I download many things. But I don't know which one is useful. So anyone can help me..

That's why they make manuals.

Could you perhaps be a bit more specific about what you are having problems with?

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Mats

This will print in green:

Code:

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printf("\033[32mHello.\n");

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(Should work on DOS/Windows/Linux - any ANSI capable terminal)
EDIT: on DOS if ansi.sys is loaded !

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ANSI_color

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rasta_freak

This will print in green:

Code:

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printf("\033[32mHello.\n");

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(Should work on DOS/Windows/Linux - any ANSI capable terminal)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ANSI_color

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However, like all other solutions, it doesn't give more than at most 16 foreground and 16 background colours.

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Mats

I can't use with escape value to change color. As I mention before, I'm using DEV-C++
when I compiled, it doesn't work at all.

For my problem, I want to use C to write a program which have more than 16 colors which is given by Windows. So I still can't find any useful codes that can help me. Or it may not be possible. I just heard that there are a header file called curses.h but I didn't use it before.
So I need your help.

Thanks Mats, that is my problem. I find many solutions but not greater than 16 colors.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by matsp

However, like all other solutions, it doesn't give more than at most 16 foreground and 16 background colours.

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Mats

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But isn't that impossible on classic text terminal/DOS prompt?

really...? No method at all?

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I want to use C to write a program which have more than 16 colors which is given by Windows

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You'll need to use something else than the console if you want more than 16 colors. If you are staying with the console, then it's just plain impossible.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rasta_freak

But isn't that impossible on classic text terminal/DOS prompt?

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I do believe it is a limitation of how a console works, so the only solution is to implement a completely new console handler - which is substantial work, not to mention that such an application would not be compatible with the current Windows Console executables [although old applications could perhaps be made to run within the new environment, but it would require replacing some pretty basic functionality within Windows itself, which I'm not at all sure is documented enough to be replaced without serious reverse engineering work].

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Mats

So what do you mean. Is that C can't do it by itself?

This is a f.a.q.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by paakfaat

Thanks Mats, that is my problem. I find many solutions but not greater than 16 colors.

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Terminals are limited to 8-bit color in the first place (16 varieties of color).

What color do you want your text to be so badly that you can't pick the closest shade?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by matsp

I do believe it is a limitation of how a console works, so the only solution is to implement a completely new console handler - which is substantial work, not to mention that such an application would not be compatible with the current Windows Console executables [although old applications could perhaps be made to run within the new environment, but it would require replacing some pretty basic functionality within Windows itself, which I'm not at all sure is documented enough to be replaced without serious reverse engineering work].

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Mats

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Yes, which is very unfortunate. I guess we will have to live with 3-bit consoles a decade more... :D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rasta_freak

Yes, which is very unfortunate. I guess we will have to live with 3-bit consoles a decade more... :D

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Not 3, but 4-bit (ok, so one bit just adjusts the intensity, but it's still 4 bits). And I think for most things, it's adequate. I can actually not think of any reason why you would realistically need more. There are plenty of different choices for doing text mode in many different colours and given more choice would not actually improve applications significantly.

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Mats

Quote:

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Originally Posted by citizen

Terminals are limited to 8-bit color in the first place (16 varieties of color).

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I wouldn't consider the windows console as a terminal/terminal emulator (and when talking about terminal, talking about, example, the vt100 terminal). I believe it's a bit different, every process can have a console and the console buffers are process specific, and managed by the OS. Anyway. I might be wrong. And, at the end, I don't really care.

There's a lot of details on MSDN: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-ca/libr...13(VS.85).aspx

Yes, on VT100 you only have five choices (that can be combined however you like): Normal, Intense, Underline, Inverse and Flashing. No colours.

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Mats

If you don't care then why should I?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by matsp

Not 3, but 4-bit (ok, so one bit just adjusts the intensity, but it's still 4 bits). And I think for most things, it's adequate. I can actually not think of any reason why you would realistically need more. There are plenty of different choices for doing text mode in many different colours and given more choice would not actually improve applications significantly.

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Mats

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Imagine aalib on 8-bit color terminal (you could probably read movie subtitles from immediate proximity) ;)

Ok, I understand. I'm just a student who is learning C language and I want my program to be more colorful. So that I started to ask this question in different forums and using different search engies. I did see VT100 before. But I don't know what is ti at all. Other than this, I also read information about curses and conio2 but they just give me 16 colors. As I want to write a c programming homework with more colors to attract others. So I asked this questions. Now, I understand that the window's console is only 4bit. And no more colors can be used. So, thank you very much for help me to answer this question. Although, I still don't understand much about it, but it seems to be a good answer. Thank you again.