$CONSOLE

The $CONSOLE Metacommand creates a console window that can be used throughout a QB64 program module.

Syntax

$CONSOLE[:ONLY]

Description

• _CONSOLE ON or OFF may be used to show or hide the console window at run time.
• The :ONLY option bypasses the graphical program window, allowing the program to run in a text-only console window. This is especially useful for:
  • Legacy programs that do not use graphics.
  • Scenarios where graphical output is not needed or desired.
• _DEST _CONSOLE may be used to send screen output to the console window.
• _SCREENHIDE and _SCREENSHOW can be used to hide or show the main program window.
• _DELAY or SLEEP can be used to allow the console window to be set in front of the main program window.
• QB64 Metacommands are not commented out with ' or REM, unlike QuickBASIC metacommands
• Change the title of the $CONSOLE windows created using _CONSOLETITLE
• Note: Text can be copied partially or totally from console screens in Windows by highlighting and using the title bar menu.

To copy console text output, right click the title bar and select Edit for Mark to highlight and repeat to Copy

Examples

Example 1: Hiding and displaying a console window. Use _DELAY to place console in front of main program window.

$CONSOLE _DELAY 4 _CONSOLE OFF _DELAY 4 _CONSOLE ON _DEST _CONSOLE PRINT "Close this console window or click main window and press a key!"

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Example 2: How to use a Console window to copy screen output using the Edit menu by right clicking the console title bar.

$CONSOLE _DEST _CONSOLE c&& = -1: d& = -1: e% = -1: f%% = -1 hx$ = HEX$(f%%) PRINT "Max hex _BYTE = "; hx$; " with"; LEN(hx$); "digits ="; VAL("&H" + hx$) hx$ = HEX$(e%) PRINT "Max hex INTEGER = "; hx$; " with"; LEN(hx$); "digits ="; VAL("&H" + hx$) hx$ = HEX$(d&) PRINT "Max hex LONG = "; hx$; " with"; LEN(hx$); "digits ="; VAL("&H" + hx$) hx$ = HEX$(c&&) PRINT "Max hex _INTEGER64 = "; hx$; " with"; LEN(hx$); "digits ="; VAL("&H" + hx$) hx$ = HEX$(9223372036854775807) PRINT "Max _INTEGER64 value = "; hx$; " with"; LEN(hx$); "digits" hx$ = HEX$(-9223372036854775808) PRINT "Min _INTEGER64 value = "; hx$; " with"; LEN(hx$); "digits"

Max hex _BYTE = FF with 2 digits = 255 Max hex INTEGER = FFFF with 4 digits = 65535 Max hex LONG = FFFFFFFF with 8 digits = 4294967295 Max hex _INTEGER64 = FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF with 16 digits =-1 Max _INTEGER64 value = 7FFFFFFFFFFFFFFF with 16 digits Min _INTEGER64 value = 8000000000000000 with 16 digits

Console: Right click and select Edit > Select All (mouse highlight after) then hit Enter or select Edit > Copy to the clipboard.

Max hex _BYTE = FF with 2 digits = 255 Max hex INTEGER = FFFF with 4 digits = 65535 Max hex LONG = FFFFFFFF with 8 digits = 4294967295 Max hex _INTEGER64 = FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF with 16 digits =-1

Copied text: The above text was copied after Select All was selected and the smaller area was re-highlighted with the mouse.

See also

• _CLIPBOARD$ (function), _CLIPBOARD$ (statement)
• _CONSOLE, _ECHO
• $SCREENHIDE, $SCREENSHOW (QB64 Metacommands)
• _SCREENHIDE, _SCREENSHOW
• C Console Library

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