the dreaded CLEAR SCREEN function...

OK, just don't kill me for this... I just looked at the FAQ board, and someone suggests to use

Code:

---

#include <stdlib.h>

system ("cls");

---

for clear screen... however, below there's a post that says:

Quote:

---

adrianxw wrote:
>>> system ("cls");

Then read the FAQ to find out why this is a bad idea.

---

I read the Board FAQ to find why thats wrong, but it isn't there... In fact, the system ("cls"); isn't on the BoardFAQ at all...

:confused: :confused: :confused: :(

I thought there was a system("cls"); example in the FAQ too, until i looked (and i compiled the bloody thing). Apparently adrianxw was reffering to the comments about the use of system in the Running Execs segment of the FAQ. The fact of the matter is, system() isnt really something your ever likely to need. It loads up your command processor and it, in turn, executes the argument you passed to system(). Its slow. Veeery slow. Besides... Theres always another way. ... ... *ahem* Couldn't resist.

1)system("cls") is a very platform dependent way to do it. It will only work on MS-DOS.

2)It's slow as hell

As a practical matter, you could use numerous \n's(platform independent) or simply use the clrscr() function in conio.h (which is almost as platform specific as system("cls"))

>>you could use numerous \n's(platform independent)

How is that platform dependant? All you have to do is ensure that you have enough \n's to get past any screen that you may encounter. Not too platform dependant.

>>clrscr() function in conio.h

I just tried that, but it doesn't work for M$ VC++.... I'm assuming that you just put the #define <conio.h> up on top and clrscr(); inside the main, right?

If that really doesn't work, what is the BEST way of getting the clear_screen then? (for Visual C++ compiler).

Thanks

no man. your having a syntax error. u go:

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

main(){
int variable_1;
char what_ever;

cout<<"hello";

whatever....

clrscr();


}


hope u got it....

but clrscr() isn't ANSI, so I guess that the only clean way to clear the screen is doing 50 printf("\n");'s

Oskilian

get to the b800:0000 and free your Soul!!! [and, for you non text more graphical tech visionaries, Linear Frame Buffer to the resque!!!!]

The windows way to clear a console window is to write your own ClrScrn function and use that. How to ? Well, read the FAQ.

>>>
adrianxw wrote:
>>> system ("cls");

Then read the FAQ to find out why this is a bad idea.
<<<

As someone has pointed out, it was the use of the system() function I was commenting on. There are ways to clear the screen in the FAQ, (I have absolutely no idea I have typed that short phrase!).

http://www.cprogramming.com/boardfaq.html#execs