Scan keyboard for input

[heyyouyesyouiloveyou]

Hi. I've been challenging myself to create a mini console game, where you move a character to avoid falling beads. I've been plotting it out on notes on my iPad, and it should give the context for my question:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45

*3 columns to move between

* * * * O ------------------ class Player == VARIABLES nameOfPlayer Int position FUNCTIONS String getName() Int getposition() void moveleft() Void moveright() class Bead == VARIABLES Int[] position FUNCTION Constructor (determines entry position at random) Void drop() Get Xpos Get ypos class Console() == VARIABLES FUNCTIONS draw() takeUserInput(); Getuserunput(); +=+=+=+=+=+= main() While (no bead is in the same location as the player) Wait .75 seconds; Take user input; Drop beads; Move player; Draw board; End while; Display: game over!!!;

My problem is that I would like to input whether to go left or right using the arrow keys. I obviously cannot use cin or a similar console input because the program needs to continue regardless of whether or not I input a key. How do I surmount this issue? Thanks!

[whitenite1]

@heyyouyesyouiloveyou
Here is a small program that shows how to use _getch(), and gotoXY(). You should be able to adapt this to your program.

#include <iostream> 
#include <Windows.h> 
#include <conio.h> 

void gotoXY(int, int); 
void removeCursor(void);

//Global scope variables 
//int posX(5), posY(10);
int x = 5, y=10; // Set where to start printing
int key; // Changed to an integer, instead of a char
#define ENTER 13
#define UP 72
#define LEFT 75
#define RIGHT 77
#define DOWN 80

int main()
{
 removeCursor();

 std::cout<<"\tUse arrow keys: \x1a \x1b \x19 \x18";
   gotoXY(x, y);
	 std::cout<<((char)('\x01'));
 do	
 {
	key = _getch();
	switch(key)
	{
	case RIGHT:
	 gotoXY(x, y);
	 std::cout<<' ';
	 x++;
	 gotoXY(x, y);
	 std::cout<<((char)('\x01'));
	 break;
	case LEFT:
	 gotoXY(x, y);
	 std::cout<<' ';
	 x--;
	 gotoXY(x, y);
	 std::cout<<((char)('\x01'));
	 break;
	case UP:
	 gotoXY(x, y);
	 std::cout<<' ';
	 y--;
	 gotoXY(x, y);
	 std::cout<<((char)('\x01'));
	 break;
	case DOWN:
	 gotoXY(x, y);
	 std::cout<<' ';
	 y++;
	 gotoXY(x, y);
	 std::cout<<((char)('\x01'));

	}
 }while(key != ENTER);
 return 0;
}

void gotoXY(int x, int y){
 COORD c;
 c.X = x, c.Y = y;
 SetConsoleCursorPosition(GetStdHandle(STD_OUTPUT_HANDLE), c);
}

void removeCursor(void){
 HANDLE handle = GetStdHandle(STD_OUTPUT_HANDLE);
 CONSOLE_CURSOR_INFO cci;
 cci.dwSize = 1; 
 cci.bVisible = false; //false = invisible
 SetConsoleCursorInfo(handle, &cci);
}

[heyyouyesyouiloveyou]

I'm very sorry, I fought to mention that I'm using a Mac. In place of Windows.h I can use ncurses, correct? I'm not sure about conio.h, however.

[whitenite1]

@heyyouyesyouiloveyou

Yes, you could probably use ncurses, but I'm not positive, as I know nothing about the Mac. I'm sure there are users here, that do use it, and can steer you in the right direction. Good luck..

[heyyouyesyouiloveyou]

@whitenite1
Thank you for your help!


Is there anyone that can help steer me in the right direction? Thanks.

[heyyouyesyouiloveyou]

Just a quick follow up:

I've done some looking into ncurses, and I have found that is offers both the functionality to get input in the way I want and the functionality to move the cursor around the console.

Thanks!