C++ Change CMD color background and text

[highclick]

Im coding with c++ (dev-c++).
How do i change the background color of my cmd box? But more importantly, how do i change the color of certain text?

[m4ster r0shi]

Check this out:

#include <windows.h>
#include <iostream>

struct Color
{
    int color;

    Color(int color_): color(color_) {}

    Color operator + (const Color & other) const { return Color(this->color | other.color); }
};

#define FORE_LIGHT(color) const Color cfl##color##_ = FOREGROUND_##color | FOREGROUND_INTENSITY;
#define BACK_LIGHT(color) const Color cbl##color##_ = BACKGROUND_##color | BACKGROUND_INTENSITY;
#define FORE_DARK(color)  const Color cfd##color##_ = FOREGROUND_##color;
#define BACK_DARK(color)  const Color cbd##color##_ = BACKGROUND_##color;

FORE_LIGHT(RED) FORE_LIGHT(GREEN) FORE_LIGHT(BLUE)
BACK_LIGHT(RED) BACK_LIGHT(GREEN) BACK_LIGHT(BLUE)
FORE_DARK (RED) FORE_DARK (GREEN) FORE_DARK (BLUE)
BACK_DARK (RED) BACK_DARK (GREEN) BACK_DARK (BLUE)

const Color cdefault_ = cfdRED_ + cfdGREEN_ + cfdBLUE_;

std::ostream & operator << (std::ostream & os, Color c)
{
    return SetConsoleTextAttribute(GetStdHandle(STD_OUTPUT_HANDLE), c.color), os;
}

int main()
{
    using std::cout;

    cout << "Hello, " << cflRED_                        << "Red   " << cdefault_ << " World!\n";
    cout << "Hello, " <<           cflGREEN_            << "Green " << cdefault_ << " World!\n";
    cout << "Hello, " <<                       cflBLUE_ << "Blue  " << cdefault_ << " World!\n";
    cout << "Hello, " << cflRED_ + cflGREEN_            << "Yellow" << cdefault_ << " World!\n";
    cout << "Hello, " << cflRED_             + cflBLUE_ << "Pink  " << cdefault_ << " World!\n";
    cout << "Hello, " <<           cflGREEN_ + cflBLUE_ << "Cyan  " << cdefault_ << " World!\n";
    cout << "Hello, " << cblRED_ + cblGREEN_ + cblBLUE_ << "Black " << cdefault_ << " World!\n";

    cout << cflRED_ + cflGREEN_ + cflBLUE_ << "\n(hit enter to quit...)" << cdefault_;

    std::cin.get();
}

Useful link -> http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms682073(v=vs.85).aspx

[chipp]

return SetConsoleTextAttribute(GetStdHandle(STD_OUTPUT_HANDLE), c.color), os;

i don't understand this line,how can you return 2 values?

[m4ster r0shi]

I don't return two values :P I only return os. What I wrote is another way to write...

SetConsoleTextAttribute(GetStdHandle(STD_OUTPUT_HANDLE), c.color); return os;

Useful link -> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comma_operator

[chipp]

so it has the same effect like when you write it with bracket? that strange, in my opinion, you should write it like this:

return (SetConsoleTextAttribute(GetStdHandle(STD_OUTPUT_HANDLE), c.color), os);

because, in my opinion once more, the effect of writing like this:

return SetConsoleTextAttribute(GetStdHandle(STD_OUTPUT_HANDLE), c.color), os;

then the result should be like this:

return 1, os /*whatever the variable contains*/;

from wikipedia
i = a, b; // stores a into i. Equivalent to (i = a), b;

how could that possibly happened?

[m4ster r0shi]

The example from wikipedia is different. You also have an assignment operator there, which
has higher  precedence  than the comma operator.  In my example, the only operator is the
comma operator. Therefore, the  parentheses  are not necessary.  Here's another example:

#include <iostream>

int f() { return 1 + 1, 2 + 2, 3 + 3; }

int main() { std::cout << f() << std::endl; }