WriteConsole

The WriteConsole function writes a character string to a console screen buffer beginning at the current cursor location.

BOOL WriteConsole(
  HANDLE hConsoleOutput, // handle to a console screen buffer
  CONST VOID *lpBuffer,  // pointer to buffer to write from
  DWORD nNumberOfCharsToWrite,
                         // number of characters to write
  LPDWORD lpNumberOfCharsWritten,
                         // pointer to number of characters written
  LPVOID lpReserved      // reserved
);
 

Parameters

hConsoleOutput

Handle to the console screen buffer to be written to. The handle must have GENERIC_WRITE access.

lpBuffer

Pointer to a buffer that contains characters to be written to the screen buffer.

nNumberOfCharsToWrite

Specifies the number of characters to write.

lpNumberOfCharsWritten

Pointer to a 32-bit variable that receives the number of characters actually written.

lpReserved

Reserved; must be NULL.

Return Values

If the function succeeds, the return value is nonzero.

If the function fails, the return value is zero. To get extended error information, call GetLastError.

Remarks

WriteConsole writes characters to a console screen buffer. It behaves like the WriteFile function, except it can write in either Unicode (wide-character) or ANSI mode. To create an application that maintains a single set of sources compatible with both modes, use WriteConsole rather than WriteFile. Although WriteConsole can be used only with a console screen buffer handle, WriteFile can be used with other handles (such as files or pipes). WriteConsole fails if used with a standard handle that has been redirected to be something other than a console handle.

Although an application can use WriteConsole in ANSI mode to write ANSI characters, consoles do not support ANSI escape sequences. However, some Win32 functions provide equivalent functionality: for example, SetCursorPos, SetConsoleTextAttribute, and GetConsoleCursorInfo.

WriteConsole writes characters to the screen buffer at the current cursor position. The cursor position advances as characters are written. The SetConsoleCursorPosition function sets the current cursor position.

Characters are written using the foreground and background color attributes associated with the screen buffer. The SetConsoleTextAttribute function changes these colors. To determine the current color attributes and the current cursor position, use GetConsoleScreenBufferInfo.

All of the input modes that affect the behavior of WriteFile have the same effect on WriteConsole. To retrieve and set the output modes of a console screen buffer, use the GetConsoleMode and SetConsoleMode functions.

Windows NT: This function uses either Unicode characters or 8-bit characters from the console's current code page. The console's code page defaults initially to the system's OEM code page. To change the console's code page, use the SetConsoleCP or SetConsoleOutputCP functions, or use the chcp or mode con cp select= commands.

QuickInfo

  Windows NT: Requires version 3.1 or later.
  Windows: Requires Windows 95 or later.
  Windows CE: Unsupported.
  Header: Declared in wincon.h.
  Import Library: Use kernel32.lib.
  Unicode: Implemented as Unicode and ANSI versions on Windows NT.

See Also

Consoles and Character-Mode Support Overview, Console Functions, GetConsoleCursorInfo, GetConsoleMode, GetConsoleScreenBufferInfo, ReadConsole, SetConsoleCP, SetConsoleCursorPosition, SetConsoleMode, SetConsoleOutputCP, SetConsoleTextAttribute, SetCursorPos, WriteFile