Example of Using Formatting with _outtext()

ID: Q39783

5.10 6.00 6.00a 6.00ax 7.00 | 5.10 6.00 6.00a | 1.00

MS-DOS                      | OS/2            | WINDOWS

The information in this article applies to:

• The C Run-time (CRT), included with:

      - Microsoft C for MS-DOS, versions 5.1, 6.0, 6.0a, and 6.0ax
      - Microsoft C for OS/2, versions 5.1, 6.0, and 6.0a
      - Microsoft C/C++ for MS-DOS, version 7.0
      - Microsoft Visual C++ for Windows, version 1.0
  

SUMMARY

When programming with the Microsoft graphics library, the printf() function can be used, but it is not recommended. Instead, when doing any formatting the _outtext() function should be used in conjunction with the sprintf() function. You should not mix printf() calls with _outtext() calls.

The user-defined _outtextf() function demonstrated in the program below performs formatting and printing in one function. This function simplifies conversion of non-Microsoft C graphics-compatible source code to Microsoft-compatible code. An intelligent text editor could simply do a global search and replace "printf" to "_outtextf".

MORE INFORMATION

/* This following program defines and demonstrates the function
   "_outtextf": */ 
/* Compile options needed: none
*/ 

#include <stdio.h>
#include <graph.h>
#include <stdarg.h>

int _outtextf (char *format,...);
void main (void);

void main (void)
 { /* Clear the screen and display "Hello, world #87!" */ 
   _clearscreen (_GCLEARSCREEN);
   _outtextf ("Hello, %s #%d!","world",87);
 }

int _outtextf (char *format,...)
 { va_list arglist;
   char buffer[150]; /*Must be large enough to hold formatted string*/ 
   int retval;

   va_start (arglist,format);
   retval = vsprintf(buffer,format,arglist);
   va_end (arglist);

   _outtext (buffer);
   return (retval);
 }

Last Reviewed: July 18, 1997