How to put a Char into the Input buffer of a console?

Hi, me again :)

I am trying to write a program that loops an input until the escape key is pressed. But how do you put a single char into the input buffer so when the program requests a input the char will be displayed and removable by backspace key? Below is the basic what I have come so far but the problem is that “cin.putback(c);” does neither display the char “c” nor is it removable for the user, when pressing backspace key. I could add “cout << c;” but that only solves one problem, what do I need to do to make the char editable/removable for user when inputing?

Code:

---

char c;
while (1) {
        c = getch();
        switch (c) {
                case 27:  // Escape key is pressed
                        return 0;
                case 13: // Enter key is pressed
                        //...
                break;
                default: // Some other key is pressed
                        cin.putback(c);
// Place char c into the input buffer,
// but it won't be displayed nor editable when input requested.
                        cin.getline(Text, 256);
// request input from user,
// the char c will be included in Text when user has finished input.
                        //...
        }
}

---

As u are already using a nonstandard function getch() then you can put that char back where it came from with another nonstandard function ungetch()

I dodn't see how this will help me place the char c into the input buffer. Please demonstrate how this should work in code please...

You may also use getche() if you want the keystroke to be echoed to the screen. ungetch() may echo the keystroke as well when its put back to the console. Play around with these to get the desired effect.

gg

Hey getche() works perfect! Thanks Codeplug, again :D

If all you want to do is monitor for escape then try something like:

Code:

---

DO
  use non-standard getch() for next user keystroke
  IF keystroke is ESC
      return
  ENDIF
  put keystroke back to console, ungetch(), so cin can read it later
WHILE user has not hit ENTER
cin.getline()

---

[EDIT]
This don't work - read below...

gg

no wait

The char c is still not removable... it is displayed but not editable when input is requested. Please help...

(this was a respons to MY last reply)

I realised that I need to flush/clear the input buffer when looping... how do I flush/clear the input buffer, is there a function for that?

Nevermind.....that algorithm will infinite loop. When you ungetch() a char, the next call to getch() will return what you just put back. You cannot use cin.putback(c) unless it was the last char you extracted (using cin).
You will be better off not mixing standard and non-standard I/O. Therefore, you will have to fill your input buffer yourself use getch[e]() and kbhit().

gg

Normally I wouldn't do this, but I haven't got my <conio.h> in a LONG time :)
I'm sure something like this has been posted a 100 times too...

Code:

---

    const int ESC = 27;
    const int BACKSPACE = 8;
    const int BUFFER_SIZE = 255;

    char buffer[BUFFER_SIZE];
    int c,i=0;
    do
    {
        c = getch();

        //accept this char if it's printable
        if (isprint(c))
        {
            buffer[i++] = (char)c;
            putch(c);
        }

        //support for backspace functionality
        if ((c == BACKSPACE) && (i != 0))
        {
            putch(c);  //backspace
            putch(' '); //overwrite existing char
            putch(c);  //backspace back into position
            i--;
        }
       
    } while((c != '\r') && (c != ESC) && (i < BUFFER_SIZE));

    buffer[i] = '\0';

    //did it work?
    cout << endl << buffer << endl;

---

gg

Really thanks Codeplug! almost all the funtions in your code are new to me, but it works great... I was about to give up... when you came thanks! :D