Console application. Console.Clear = IOException

[Dinsdale]

I am writing a small console application that runs fine unless I am re-
directing the output to a file (i.e. c:\ app.exe >>output.txt) . I
have determined that the issue is caused by the Console.Clear()
function. When piping to a file, the console.clear causes the
following error:

Unhandled Exception: System.IO.IOException: The handle is invalid.

at System.IO.IO__Error.WinIOError(Int32 errorCode, String
maybeFullPath)
at System.Console.Clear()
....

Is there any way to determine where my output is being directed so
that I can skip over the Console.Clear command if I am re-directing
stdOut?

The other side of the error is with input. I prompt the user at one or
two points but if the output is re-directed, I would like to simply
skip the prompt. Again, this would be possible if I can determine
where standard output is going.

Thanks!
Dinsdale

[Dinsdale]

On Feb 28, 2:51 pm, Dinsdale <[e-mail]:

I am writing a small console application that runs fine unless I am re-
directing the output to a file (i.e. c:\ app.exe >>output.txt) . I
have determined that the issue is caused by the Console.Clear()
function. When piping to a file, the console.clear causes the
following error:

Unhandled Exception: System.IO.IOException: The handle is invalid.

at System.IO.IO__Error.WinIOError(Int32 errorCode, String
maybeFullPath)
at System.Console.Clear()
...

Is there any way to determine where my output is being directed so
that I can skip over the Console.Clear command if I am re-directing
stdOut?

The other side of the error is with input. I prompt the user at one or
two points but if the output is re-directed, I would like to simply
skip the prompt. Again, this would be possible if I can determine
where standard output is going.

Thanks!
Dinsdale

So did nobody answer this because I am stupid and totally missed
something obvious? Seriously, hints anyone???

[Tom Shelton]

On Feb 28, 1:51*pm, Dinsdale <[e-mail]:

I am writing a small console application that runs fine unless I am re-
directing the output to a file (i.e. c:\ app.exe >>output.txt) . I
have determined that the issue is caused by the Console.Clear()
function. When piping to a file, the console.clear causes the
following error:

Unhandled Exception: System.IO.IOException: The handle is invalid.

at System.IO.IO__Error.WinIOError(Int32 errorCode, String
maybeFullPath)
at System.Console.Clear()
...

Is there any way to determine where my output is being directed so
that I can skip over the Console.Clear command if I am re-directing
stdOut?

The other side of the error is with input. I prompt the user at one or
two points but if the output is re-directed, I would like to simply
skip the prompt. Again, this would be possible if I can determine
where standard output is going.

Thanks!
Dinsdale

AFIK, there is no way to tell if you have been redirected. Sorry.

--
Tom Shelton

[Michael D. Ober]

"Tom Shelton" <to*********@comcast.netwrote in message
news:2b**********************************@e39g2000 hsf.googlegroups.com...
On Feb 28, 1:51 pm, Dinsdale <[e-mail]:

I am writing a small console application that runs fine unless I am re-
directing the output to a file (i.e. c:\ app.exe >>output.txt) . I
have determined that the issue is caused by the Console.Clear()
function. When piping to a file, the console.clear causes the
following error:

Unhandled Exception: System.IO.IOException: The handle is invalid.

at System.IO.IO__Error.WinIOError(Int32 errorCode, String
maybeFullPath)
at System.Console.Clear()
...

Is there any way to determine where my output is being directed so
that I can skip over the Console.Clear command if I am re-directing
stdOut?

The other side of the error is with input. I prompt the user at one or
two points but if the output is re-directed, I would like to simply
skip the prompt. Again, this would be possible if I can determine
where standard output is going.

Thanks!
Dinsdale

You can't do it directly from the framework. However, take a look at
http://msdn.microsoft.com/archive/de...ui07152003.asp
for information detecting redirection. Personally, I would wrap my
Console.Clear() function inside a small sub as follows:

public Sub ClearConsole()
static failed as boolean = false
if failed then exit sub

try
system.Console.Clear()
catch
failed = true
end try
end sub

Mike.

[Tom Shelton]

On Mar 11, 7:26*pm, "Michael D. Ober" <obermd.@.alum.mit.edu.nospam.>
wrote:

"Tom Shelton" <[e-mail] in message

news:2b**********************************@e39g2000 hsf.googlegroups.com...
On Feb 28, 1:51 pm, Dinsdale <[e-mail]:

I am writing a small console application that runs fine unless I am re-
directing the output to a file (i.e. c:\ app.exe >>output.txt) . I
have determined that the issue is caused by the Console.Clear()
function. When piping to a file, the console.clear causes the
following error:

Unhandled Exception: System.IO.IOException: The handle is invalid.

at System.IO.IO__Error.WinIOError(Int32 errorCode, String
maybeFullPath)
at System.Console.Clear()
...

Is there any way to determine where my output is being directed so
that I can skip over the Console.Clear command if I am re-directing
stdOut?

The other side of the error is with input. I prompt the user at one or
two points but if the output is re-directed, I would like to simply
skip the prompt. Again, this would be possible if I can determine
where standard output is going.

Thanks!
Dinsdale

You can't do it directly from the framework. *However, take a look athttp://msdn.microsoft.com/archive/default.asp?url=/archive/en-us/dnar...

Hey, Michael - good find. I wasn't aware of the PeekConsoleInput
trick... This may actually be what the OP needs, because he also
wants to not display the prompt....

--
Tom Shelton