How to change console window buffer size

[MKANET]

Currently, it's not possible to change the buffer size of a console window via native Windows command-line commands. All I can do is change the columns and height of a window.

I would like to make a simple autoit utility that will allow me to adjust the buffer size of a command window.

For example MKANET.au3 300

I would like to be able to type that command and respective argument at a Windows command-line; and, have it change the buffer size WITHOUT changing the height of the current window. I would like this only to be temporary if at all possiblepossible, so if I exit the command window, it will revert back to the system default.

I'm guessing autoit would have to send some kind of api command? I couldn't find any information on this when doing a google search.

PS: I'm still very very new to autoit. So, please.. if possible include a working example for me to try. I would really appreciate it!

Thanks so much,

MKANET

[BrewManNH]

Instead of using the console windows dimensions, you could use an edit box instead and pipe the information to IT instead of the command window. There doesn't seem to be a way to adjust the buffer size without adjusting the window size at the same time.

[MKANET]

I'm not familiar with an edit box. Unfotunately this is a HUGE batch file which uses colors, special characters; ascii art, etc. The output is already being piped through an external mtee command (to saving everything to a log file). If this was a very simple batch file, maybe redirecting the output to autoit would be feasible.

I dont mind changing the window size while changing the buffer size. I could just set it to the command window defaults. I would love to know how to do this in autoit.

Also, if you could give me an example of how to use an edit box for my batch file... who knows.. maybe it would work.

Again, if it's possible please provide working examples for me to try. I would really appreciate it!!

[BrewManNH]

The way you'd do it in a command window would be to use "mode con lines=xxx" where xxx = the number of lines you want in the window. If you specify a number larger than can be displayed on the monitor, it will make a command box that's as tall as the monitor, but will have the buffer size set to what you want.

[MKANET]

I guess I misunderstood. That's how I've been doing it.

But I can't change the buffer setting independantly of the window size. I know in VB.net (and possibly other programming languages) you can specify them independantly. Below is the VB.net way to do it (Which I dont have a compiler for). I was hoping for the AutoIt way to do this:

Module ConsoleBuffer

Sub Main()

Console.WindowWidth = 100

Console.BufferWidth = 100

Console.BufferHeight = 1000

End Sub

End Module

Anyway, if there's no way to do this in AutoIt, how would I use the edit window (as suggested above)?

Thanks in advance!

[JohnOne]

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/ms686044%28v=vs.85%29.aspx

[MKANET]

Thanks. But, that code didn't seem to work.

[JohnOne]

What code? I just posted a link to a WINAPI.

Did you wrap it with a dllcall?

[MKANET]

Im hoping you could be patient with me. I'm still brand new. I understand very basic code; especially when there's a working example code. When I make a test.au3 file out of the code you posted, it takes me to a help screen defaulting to how to make a helloworld.au3 script. I didn't see anything about dllcall or winapi. I hope i'm not asking too much if i could see a working example for this. I can tweak it once i have something that works. I would really REALLY appreciate it.

[JohnOne]

lol. that's in my signature.

The function is in kernel32.dll and called SetConsoleScreenBufferSize.

Edited June 5, 2012 by JohnOne

[JohnOne]

I'm not to clever with the WinAPI myself but it would be something like this.

Untested

#include <WinAPI.au3>


Func _SetConsoleScreenBufferSize($x, $y)
   $hSTDOUT = _WinAPI_GetStdHandle(1)
   $struct = DllStructCreate("short x;short y")
   DllStructSetData($struct, 1, $x) ; where x and y are the new sixe
   DllStructSetData($struct, 2, $y)
   $bSetConsoleScreenBufferSize = DllCall("kernel32.dll", "bool", "SetConsoleScreenBufferSize", "handle",    
   $hSTDOUT, "struct", $struct)
   If @error Then Exit MsgBox(0, 0, @error)
EndFunc   ;==>_SetConsoleScreenBufferSize

Edited June 5, 2012 by JohnOne

[MKANET]

Thank you so much. I replaced X and Y with real numbers. There are no errors returned when execute the below code. I'm not too sure what to expect. I not even sure which variable is reponsible for the buffersize (not just window size).

Maybe someone here might know how to change the buffer size. I'm really hoping that I'm not asking for something that's too difficult to do.

#include <WinAPI.au3>
$hSTDOUT = _WinAPI_GetStdHandle(1)
$struct = DllStructCreate("short x;short y")
DllStructSetData($struct,1,80) ; where x and y are the new size
DllStructSetData($struct,1,100)
$bSetConsoleScreenBufferSize = DllCall("kernel32.dll","bool","SetConsoleScreenBufferSize","handle",$hSTDOUT,"struct",$struct)
If @error Then Exit MsgBox(0,0,@error)

Edited June 5, 2012 by MKANET

[Inverted]

You can adjust all the options for a command window by making a shortcut to the batch file. Global command window options are unaffected.

[rover]

Use Mat's Console.au3 UDF

http://matdiesel.co.uk/autoit/

http://code.google.com/p/consoleau3/

Sets the screen buffer height without resizing the cmd.exe console window height

Edit: Added attached console for GUI

#Include "Console.au3"
If Not _Console_Attach() Then Exit MsgBox(0, '', 'Console not attached')
$aRet = _Console_GetScreenBufferSize()
_Console_SetScreenBufferSize(-1, $aRet[0], 32766)
_Console_Free()
Exit

#AutoIt3Wrapper_Change2CUI=y
#Include "Console.au3"
$aRet = _Console_GetScreenBufferSize()
ConsoleWrite('Width: ' & $aRet[0] & @CRLF & 'Height: ' & $aRet[1]& @CRLF& @CRLF)
;The width must be >= the current console width or SetScreenBufferSize fails to set the buffer height.
;32766 is the maximum buffer height size in character cells.
_Console_SetScreenBufferSize(-1, $aRet[0], 32766)
$aRet = _Console_GetScreenBufferSize()
ConsoleWrite('Width: ' & $aRet[0] & @CRLF & 'Height: ' & $aRet[1]& @CRLF& @CRLF)
Exit

Edited June 6, 2012 by rover

[MKANET]

Mat, you are awesome! I don't know what I would have done without your help. You have all sorts of cool stuff on your website. You even resolved my issue with changing the icon on the current command window. Thanks!

#include "Console.au3"
If Not _Console_Attach() Then Exit MsgBox(0, '', 'Console not attached')
_Console_SetIcon("MyIcon.ico",0)
$aRet = _Console_GetScreenBufferSize()
_Console_SetScreenBufferSize(-1, $aRet[0], 32766)
_Console_Free()

[rover]

Mat, you are awesome! I don't know what I would have done without your help. You have all sorts of cool stuff on your website. You even resolved my issue with changing the icon on the current command window. Thanks!

A friend once told me he helped some woman whose car was stuck in the snow, and in response to his help she said:

'oh thank you jesus for sending me this young man!'

and didn't thank him...

'Click' Jackass

[MKANET]

Ooops.. I just realized that it's possible "rover" may not be Matt. I shouldn't have presumed. My sincerest appologies!!

Thank you very much "rover" for helping me with a very useful example. I was able to use your example to do other thing with the Console.au3 UDF.

[JohnOne]

MKANET

It is polite and welcomed to hit the like button when someone helped you.

Just hit the like button on rovers post.

[MKANET]

Thanks for the tip. This forum full of friendly people! It makes using autoit even more enjoyable.