How to change window size in C++?

Question

Hi I have to run a program in C++ and I want to make sure when the program is executed, it opens the console in a particular size/dimensions, so that the display in my program is proper. I need help as I don't know how to do it. I am using Dev C++ 5.42(Orwell). I tried using

#include<iostream> 
#include<windows.h> 

using namespace std; 

SetWindowPos(hwnd, HWND_TOPMOST, 0, 0, 0, 0, SWP_NOMOVE | SWP_NOSIZE | SWP_SHOWWINDOW); 

int main(){ 
    cout<<"Hello World"; 
}

and got an error

[Error] expected constructor, destructor, or type conversion before '(' token

I'm a beginner and hence I don't know much about these things.

Did you include `` for that function? And the console window doesn't take too kindly to being resized beyond its max dimensions, so keep that in mind. — chris, Jan 16 '14 at 05:40
If you're trying to change the size of a *console* window, use [`SetConsoleDisplayMode()`](http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/ms686028%28v=vs.85%29.aspx) — Adam Rosenfield, Jan 16 '14 at 05:46
Further to the other comments, even if it did compile and run, what exactly do you think the flags SWP_NOMOVE and SWP_NOSIZE do? (Hint: exactly what they say.) You use one or the other or neither, but not both - unless you're trying to change the Z-order of the window without altering its size or position on screen. — enhzflep, Jan 16 '14 at 06:01
@Jefffrey the full code is as follows #include #include using namespace std; SetWindowPos(hwnd, HWND_TOPMOST, 0, 0, 0, 0, SWP_NOMOVE | SWP_NOSIZE | SWP_SHOWWINDOW); int main(){ cout<<"Hello World"; } — ghanashyam, Jan 16 '14 at 06:09
@AdamRosenfield can you give me an example on how to use the function SetConsoleDisplayMode() ? — ghanashyam, Jan 16 '14 at 06:10
Putting code before `main` doesn't make it execute before `main`. Just put it at the start of `main` unless you truly have a good reason for why it needs to run before `main`, in which case there are methods available to make that happen. — chris, Jan 16 '14 at 06:11
@enhzflep it is still giving the same error. Btw I got the line of code from the internet, so I don't know what does what. — ghanashyam, Jan 16 '14 at 06:13
@GhanashyamBC, Well, you need a proper handle to the window. One of the console functions provides it, but really, `hwnd` is just a normal variable, and like any other, it needs to be declared, set/initialized, etc. — chris, Jan 16 '14 at 06:20
possible duplicate of [Reducing console size](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/12900713/reducing-console-size) — Ben Voigt, Jan 16 '14 at 06:47
C++ is not a Do-What-I-Mean programming language. Compilers are very particular about syntax. Read [The Definitive C++ Book Guide and List](http://stackoverflow.com/q/388242/1889329) - Introductory. — IInspectable, Jan 16 '14 at 10:36

score 7 · Accepted Answer · answered Jan 16 '14 at 06:43

That function is useless for console applications, which don't own a window (unless they create one using the CreateWindow API, which is atypical for console apps). Instead their output is connected to csrss, which does have windows.

You should be using

SetConsoleScreenBufferSize
SetConsoleWindowInfo

instead.

There's an example at http://www.cplusplus.com/forum/windows/10731/

score 3 · Answer 2 · edited Nov 27 '17 at 20:48

3

This works for me:

HWND hwnd = GetConsoleWindow();
if( hwnd != NULL ){ MoveWindow(hwnd ,340,550 ,680,150 ,TRUE); }

edited Nov 27 '17 at 20:48

Petter Friberg

21,252
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answered Oct 27 '14 at 22:05

DaveWalley

817
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Samarth S · Answer 3 · 2016-11-26T22:01:34.017

If your looking for changing the screen buffer then :

HANDLE buff = GetStdHandle(STD_OUTPUT_HANDLE);
COORD sizeOfBuff;
sizeOfBuff.X=150;
sizeOfBuff.Y=100;
SetConsoleScreenBufferSize(buff,sizeOfBuff);

To resize the screen use DaveWalley's solution.

Or you could do this (only for resizing)

HWND hwnd = GetConsoleWindow();
if( hwnd != NULL ){ SetWindowPos(hwnd ,0,0,0 ,1000,300 ,SWP_SHOWWINDOW|SWP_NOMOVE); }

Be sure to include:

#define _WIN32_WINNT 0x0502
#include<windows.h>

at the begining of the file. Literally as the first lines.

Got the solution by reding about the functions mentioned by Ben Voigt.

How to change window size in C++?

3 Answers3