• 0

C# adding a console window in a windows app


Question

17 answers to this question

Recommended Posts

  • 0
  On 26/05/2010 at 18:37, NotSoSmartGuy said:

Basically I have a windows app and would like to add a console window where I can output Console.WriteLine("SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS");

embedding a console in windows app or opening a new console windows from windows app?

  • 0

I don't think there is any .NET call for that, but the native function is AllocConsole and you could call that with interop:

[DllImport("kernel32")]
static extern int AllocConsole();

static void Main()
{
        AllocConsole();
}

If you call AllocConsole before calling any console functions, that should be all you need. Otherwise you need to also manually set up stdout and friends. FreeConsole is the opposite of AllocConsole, and is used to get rid of the console.

  • 0

using System.Runtime.InteropServices;

[DllImport("kernel32.dll", EntryPoint = "AllocConsole", SetLastError = true, CharSet = CharSet.Auto, CallingConvention = CallingConvention.StdCall)]

private static extern int AllocConsole();

AllocConsole();

Console.WriteLine("Hello World!"); // outputs to console window

  • 0

Wouldn't it make more sense for a GUI app to have a dialog/form/whatever with a textbox that you write to instead? Is there something about the console that you specifically need? If you're just trying to "check what you're doing," I think allocating a console is inappropriate. Especially since the Windows console hasn't changed since Windows 98

It's usually better to tell us what goal you're trying to achieve. Lots of people use the wrong tool for the job.

  • 0
  On 26/05/2010 at 22:23, hdood said:

The console is a quick and useful way of outputting debug messages.

Check out the Debug.Writeline method if you are using Visual Studio, this is an easy way of outputting debug messages http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.diagnostics.debug.writeline.aspx

  • 0
  On 26/05/2010 at 23:07, luke_smily_face said:

Check out the Debug.Writeline method if you are using Visual Studio, this is an easy way of outputting debug messages http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.diagnostics.debug.writeline.aspx

I do not write managed code, but presumably it is equivalent to the native debugging functions, which means you actually have to have a debugger attached in order to see the output. Sometimes you just want to display debug messages without the need for that.

  • 0
  On 27/05/2010 at 09:21, ReDwAvE said:

Easy, Just go to the property of the project and make the Application Type : Console Application

and Writes Console.WriteLine() :)

That's not what he wants. His application is NOT a console application but he still wants to send text to a console. A solution has already been posting anyway

  • 0
  On 27/05/2010 at 17:54, Rudy said:

That's not what he wants. His application is NOT a console application but he still wants to send text to a console. A solution has already been posting anyway

From the smiley face above you should have realized he was joking.

  • 0
  On 26/05/2010 at 23:07, luke_smily_face said:

Check out the Debug.Writeline method if you are using Visual Studio, this is an easy way of outputting debug messages http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.diagnostics.debug.writeline.aspx

Use this instead of console, visual studio will then output this for you internally instead of having one extra window spawning for your console, that also goes away if your program crashes.

If you need to read debug-output from deployed applications or similar have a look on Log4Net(http://logging.apache.org/log4net/index.html) that allows you to configure exactly how you want your debug lines to be output (console/debug, file, to server etc)

  • 0
  On 30/05/2010 at 10:16, FusionOpz said:

Your not writing managed code but you are using C# :/

Are you talking to me? I do not write managed code in C# or any other language, but I can still guess the answer to simpler questions. I said this to make it clear that I had no expertise and was guessing that it was equivalent to certain native APIs. I was saying that a console can be useful because you sometimes want to output certain information to something other than a debugger. The two complement each other, it's not one or the other.

  • 0
  On 31/05/2010 at 05:46, hdood said:

Are you talking to me? I do not write managed code in C# or any other language, but I can still guess the answer to simpler questions. I said this to make it clear that I had no expertise and was guessing that it was equivalent to certain native APIs. I was saying that a console can be useful because you sometimes want to output certain information to something other than a debugger. The two complement each other, it's not one or the other.

Ah was somehow confusing you with the OP :p :whistle: *sneaks out the back door*

This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Posts

    • Chrome. Because it just works Chrome. Because it just works  
    • I'm curious as to how Apple will marketing it's (lacking) AI-thingy compared to other players in the market. I'm not pro-AI on OS'es, but having practically nothing looks kinda 'sad' to me also.
    • Anthropic cuts off Windsurf's Claude 3.x access: What it means for users by Paul Hill The popular AI-native coding tool, Windsurf, has announced that Anthropic has cut off first-party capacity to its Claude 3 series of models, including Claude 3.5 Sonnet, 3.7 Sonnet, and 3.7 Sonnet Thinking. Until Windsurf can find some capacity to support the demand for these models, it has had to make some short-term changes. One action Windsurf is taking to ease capacity issues is offering a promo rate for Gemini 2.5 Pro of 0.75x credits instead of the usual 1x. Gemini 2.5 Pro is a strong alternative to Claude models for coding, so it could help ease the capacity burden. Additionally, Windsurf has totally removed direct access to the affected Claude models for Free tier users and those trialing the Pro plan. However, you can add your own Claude API key to continue using the model in Windsurf. Claude Sonnet 4 is also available via your own key. Who it affects, and how As a result of the change, users who rely on the Claude 3 series models within Windsurf may experience slower response times or temporary unavailability. As an alternative, users could use the free SWE-1 models or the heavily discounted promo of GPT-4.1. There are other models available for paying customers, too. Users on the Free plan or enjoying a trial of Pro are the most affected by this change is it completely removes first-party capacity, forcing them to create a key and add it manually in Windsurf. This is a big barrier to entry, but some people might be willing to do this as Claude is widely seen as one of the best AI models for coding. The move could be considered a fairly big blow to Windsurf, which was recently in acquisition talks with OpenAI. Given Claude’s reputation as a strong AI for coding, developers could be less likely to use Windsurf now that it doesn’t come with Claude's set and is ready to go on the Free plan. Why it's happening The change came with less than a week’s notice for Windsurf to adapt to the change. While the press release doesn’t disclose the reasons for Anthropic's decision, there is a strong likelihood that it has something to do with OpenAI’s potential acquisition of the IDE. Anthropic and OpenAI were the original leaders competing in the AI race, and Anthropic won’t want to give OpenAI any help if it can help it. The chagrined Windsurf said that it was concerned about Anthropic’s decision and said the move would harm the entire industry, not just Windsurf. It’s unclear what it means by this, as it didn’t elucidate on this thought. Reactions As mentioned earlier, if you have been using Claude models and now feel abandoned by Anthropic and Windsurf, following the latter’s recommendation to use Gemini Pro 2.5 could be a sensible idea. While first-party capacity has been removed, Windsurf is still actively working with other inference providers to restore capacity and full access to the models. Windsurf, while disappointed with Anthropic's move, said the magic of its IDE doesn’t come from the models themselves. Instead, it’s all about the software’s deep contextual understanding, intentional user experience, and unique features like Previews, Deploys, and Reviews. Despite this setback, it will keep trying to deliver “magic.” Given everything, users will now need to decide whether Gemini 2.5 Pro meets their needs or if they need to hunt for a Claude 3 series API key to restore Claude functionality in Windsurf. If you use Windsurf, do not overlook its own model, SWE-1, as it’s also very capable and free to use. This decision by Anthropic highlights the main issue with relying on third parties to provide AI tools that we increasingly rely upon. For businesses like Windsurf, it means they will diversify the models they offer or, as Windsurf has already done, create their own LLMs that they control. For end users, being able to download a language model and run it offline is increasingly becoming easier and ensures users don’t lose access to their favorite models. Windsurf is not the only AI IDE on the scene, and this move could cause problems for it if other players continue to offer Claude models, at least in the short term, while it searches for more capacity. It will also reduce trust between model creators like Anthropic and the companies that rely on the models.
    • Tesla instructor reportedly said staff leave with a 'negative taste in their mouth' by Hamid Ganji Tesla has been making the headlines over the past few months due to Elon Musk's controversy in the Department of Government Efficiency, aka DOGE. People have been marching to the streets, boycotting Tesla, and even setting their already-bought Tesla cars on fire. Tesla temporarily shut down its factory in Austin for the week of Memorial Day, and employees could either take paid time off or attend a series of training sessions. Business Insider now claims to have obtained a recording of the sessions that reveals some interesting details about the Tesla culture and how its employees feel about the company. The Tesla instructor reportedly asked employees to respond if they ever felt "I can't work under these conditions" and were uneasy about the company's constant change. "I know I have," the instructor said. "A lot of people leave this company, and they have kind of a negative taste in their mouth," the Tesla instructor added. "They think: 'Man, it was terrible. It was bad. I got burnt out. I feel like I didn't get anything done, nobody listened to me.'" Hundreds of Tesla employees allegedly attended the meetings, where they were asked to take more responsibility for improving the company's culture. "Leadership has kind of another level of responsibility for trying to guide and direct that culture," the instructor told Tesla staff. "But at the end of the day, it's us as the people on the ground that are the reflection of the culture." Tesla's factory in Austin produces Cybertruck and Model Y. The staff said shutting down the factory for the sake of Memorial Day has been unusual for the company. Elon Musk recently announced that he would leave his position at the White House and added that he'll remain Tesla CEO for another five years. In the meantime, the latest data shows Tesla sales in Europe have dropped 49 percent, and the company's profit in Q1 2025 declined by 71 percent.
  • Recent Achievements

    • Week One Done
      mywakehealth earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • Dedicated
      jbatch earned a badge
      Dedicated
    • Week One Done
      Leonard grant earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • One Month Later
      portacnb1 earned a badge
      One Month Later
    • Week One Done
      portacnb1 earned a badge
      Week One Done
  • Popular Contributors

    1. 1
      +primortal
      284
    2. 2
      snowy owl
      158
    3. 3
      +FloatingFatMan
      148
    4. 4
      ATLien_0
      141
    5. 5
      Xenon
      130
  • Tell a friend

    Love Neowin? Tell a friend!