How to "draw" (print) "graphics" on black text screen (console) -

I would like to "draw" polygons on console (black) screen in "text
mode".
That is, to draw '**'s  instead of lines. Purpose is to let students
activate polygon methods and see it on screen, even before they learn
AWT and graphics.

I wonder if there are freeware classes doing this.

If not, how do I do gotoXY()  in black console screen. That is, how do
I control the cursor position ?.  Also, is there a clearScreen ()
method ?

How do I find the actual dimentions (in characters) of the screen ?
(not necessarily 25X80). Or, how do I maximize it ?


Thanks,
Memi (highschool teacher)

On 30 Oct 2004 10:08:37 -0700, Avraham wrote:

> ....Purpose is to let students
> activate polygon methods and see it on screen, even before they learn
> AWT and graphics.

I don't see the point of using Java to (try to) interact so
closely with the command line.  It is not a language well
suited for it and it destroys the x-platform nature of Java
for the sake of a few lines on the screen.

If your students are so hungry for pretty lines, it would be
better to give your students a quick taste* of Java GUI's
with a single frame where you overide paint.

(* Simple example to be explained later in the course.)

My 2c worth.

--
Andrew Thompson
http://www.PhySci.org/codes/  Web & IT Help
http://www.PhySci.org/  Open-source software suite
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http://www.LensEscapes.com/  Images that escape the mundane

On 30 Oct 2004 10:08:37 -0700, Avraham <niv444@walla.co.il> wrote:

> I would like to "draw" polygons on console (black) screen in "text
> mode".
> That is, to draw '**'s  instead of lines. Purpose is to let students
> activate polygon methods and see it on screen, even before they learn
> AWT and graphics.
>
> I wonder if there are freeware classes doing this.
>
> If not, how do I do gotoXY()  in black console screen. That is, how do
> I control the cursor position ?.  Also, is there a clearScreen ()
> method ?
>
> How do I find the actual dimentions (in characters) of the screen ?
> (not necessarily 25X80). Or, how do I maximize it ?

Not in the default SDK, since there is hardly any way to make such a
facility platform-independant. You might have a look at the console
library for your platform, though, and see if anyone wrote JNI-Bindings
for it.

See you
Stefan
--

Whom the gods wish to destroy they first call promising.