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Q39783: Example of Using Formatting with _outtext

Article: Q39783
Version(s): 5.00 5.10
Operating System: MS-DOS
Flags: ENDUSER | S_QUICKC
Last Modified: 29-DEC-1988

When programming with the Microsoft graphics library, the printf
function can be used, but it is not recommended. Instead, to do any
desired formatting, the _outtext function should be used with a prior
call to sprintf. 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".

This following program defines and demonstrates the function "_outtextf":

#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);
 }