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Obtaining user input without interrupting a timer cycle

I am writing a class which consists of member functions activated by True mod operations using lapTime below. I have a member function of my class calling itself and I want the screen to update a menu choice which allows the user to interact with the class. The problem is using cin or get waits for user input which throws off the execution of my functions when the time is right for them to do so.

an example:
void evaluate()
{
prompt_user();
if int(myTimer.lapTime()%20==0)
eat();
evaluate();
}

how can I write code to grab input if it is present in the input stream but ignore the cin (or other appropriate command) until input is actually present?

I have included the public members of the systimer class I am using as a reference. (David Levine, Chris Nevison wrote systimer.h and systimer.cpp)

class SysTimer
{
public:
SysTimer(); // constructor
void start(); // begin timing
void stop(); // stop timing
void reset(); // reset timer to 0; stops watch
if running
bool isRunning()const; // true iff stopwatch is running
double lapTime()const; // number of microseconds since start
double elapsedTime()const; // microseconds between start
and stop
double cumulativeTime() const; // returns time since last reset
double granularity() const;

tenetjax

ASKER

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tenetjax

ASKER

Edited text of question.

tenetjax

ASKER

Edited text of question.

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

nietod

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tenetjax

ASKER

I am using Windows 95 and this assignment is one I am doing with my computer science class. I am trying to teach them how to use classes and thus our programs will not be ported to another os. if you could give me more information on readconsole() or similar process in windows I would appreciate it, and do you have an alternate method of facilitating user interaction which will not interupt a timer?

nietod

Here a a few usefule procedures using the windows console API functions, they should get you started.

If you search in the help, you will find them well documented and you will find others.
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#include <stdio.h>
#include <string.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <windows.h>
FILE*fp;

enum Color
{
Red,
Green,
Blue,
Yellow,
Purple,
Cyan,
White,
Black
};

void GotoXY(int X,int Y)
{
HANDLE StdOut = GetStdHandle(STD_OUTPUT_HANDLE);
COORD Coord = {X,Y};
SetConsoleCursorPosition(StdOut,Coord);
}
void OutputStr(const char *S)
{
HANDLE StdOut = GetStdHandle(STD_OUTPUT_HANDLE);
int StrLen = strlen(S);
DWORD LenWrt;
WriteConsole(StdOut,S,StrLen,&LenWrt,NULL);
}
void OutputStr(int X,int Y,const char *S)
{
GotoXY(X,Y);
OutputStr(S);
}

void ClearScreen()
{
HANDLE StdOut = GetStdHandle(STD_OUTPUT_HANDLE);
CONSOLE_SCREEN_BUFFER_INFO BufInf;
COORD Origin = {0,0};
DWORD LenWrt;

GetConsoleScreenBufferInfo(StdOut,&BufInf); // Get screen rows and columns.

int ChrCnt = BufInf.dwSize.X * BufInf.dwSize.Y; // Number of chars on screen.

FillConsoleOutputAttribute(StdOut,0,ChrCnt,Origin,&LenWrt);
FillConsoleOutputCharacter(StdOut,' ',ChrCnt,Origin,&LenWrt);
}
void SetColor(Color TxtCol,Color BckCol)
{
HANDLE StdOut = GetStdHandle(STD_OUTPUT_HANDLE);
WORD Col = 0;

switch (TxtCol)
{
case Red: Col |= FOREGROUND_RED; break;
case Green: Col |= FOREGROUND_GREEN; break;
case Blue: Col |= FOREGROUND_BLUE; break;
case Yellow: Col |= FOREGROUND_RED | FOREGROUND_GREEN; break;
case Purple: Col |= FOREGROUND_RED | FOREGROUND_BLUE; break;
case Cyan: Col |= FOREGROUND_GREEN | FOREGROUND_BLUE; break;
case White: Col |= FOREGROUND_RED | FOREGROUND_GREEN | FOREGROUND_BLUE; break;
}
switch (BckCol)
{
case Red: Col |= BACKGROUND_RED; break;
case Green: Col |= BACKGROUND_GREEN; break;
case Blue: Col |= BACKGROUND_BLUE; break;
case Yellow: Col |= BACKGROUND_RED | BACKGROUND_GREEN; break;
case Purple: Col |= BACKGROUND_RED | BACKGROUND_BLUE; break;
case Cyan: Col |= BACKGROUND_GREEN | BACKGROUND_BLUE; break;
case White: Col |= BACKGROUND_RED | BACKGROUND_GREEN | BACKGROUND_BLUE; break;
}
SetConsoleTextAttribute(StdOut,Col);
}

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