C programming Coloring text

**purvagarg** · 08-08-2008

For my c programming I use DEV-C++ to write and in the windows xonsole environment I need to change the text color in the program. As what I know that we can change 15 colors by using this code

Code:

SetConsoleTextAttribute (GetStdHandle(STD_OUTPUT_HANDLE), FOREGROUND_RED);

But what I need is more colors & maybe curses can do it if I am not wrong. But there are not curses header file in DEV-C++ and I cannot understand how to use it or if it can be used with more colorful text color? I also downloaded ncurses 5.6 & curses 1.23 but dont know if it can be useful or not & how to use them is another thing? Also is there any example program that can be compiled in DEV. Also I am using windows platporm & not linux. So, please help me get all the info that i need. Thanks

**Expertz** · 08-08-2008

I think that you can use escape characters whihc will give you 16 bit color & many other effects.

Code:

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

int main(void) {
  cout << "regular " << '\033' << '[' << "boldface" << endl;
}

**purvagarg** · 08-08-2008

But I'm using C language. I don't know how to use C++. Anyway, thanks for you suggestion.

Thanks for your comments but I am not using C++. I am using C language. Any other method? Thanks again

**Expertz** · 08-08-2008

Oops, my bad. So you replace the cout with printf.

Maybe this will help you out just a bit more :

Sorry, I didnt notice that you are using C language & you also replaced the cout with printf it seems. Hope this helps you out more.

Code:

#include <stdio.h>

#define RESET           0
#define BRIGHT          1
#define DIM             2
#define UNDERLINE       3
#define BLINK           4
#define REVERSE         7
#define HIDDEN          8

#define BLACK           0
#define RED             1
#define GREEN           2
#define YELLOW          3
#define BLUE            4
#define MAGENTA         5
#define CYAN            6
#define WHITE           7

void textcolor(int attr, int fg, int bg);
int main() {
        textcolor(BRIGHT, RED, BLACK);
        printf("In color\n");
        textcolor(RESET, WHITE, BLACK);
        return 0;
}

void textcolor(int attr, int fg, int bg) {
        char command[13];

        /* Command is the control command to the terminal */
        sprintf(command, "%c[%d;%d;%dm", 0x1B, attr, fg + 30, bg + 40);
        printf("%s", command);
}