Input/Output w/o Macros

[Spudster]

I've been working on getting a program to read input, then redisplay that on the screen only using the Windows API.  I know that MASM32 comes with a macros package that I can use, and I have.  It's simple and slick to use, but I just really want to learn exactly how the Windows API works and I figured this should be the simplest program to write.  Here's what I have that's working:

Code Select Expand


  .586
  .model flat,stdcall
  option casemap:none

  ... Include windows/kernel32/etc. ...

  .const
helloText db "Hello World",0

  .data?
hConsoleOutput HANDLE ?
hConsoleInput HANDLE ?

  .code
program:
  call main
  invoke ExitProcess,0

main proc
  LOCAL lpConsoleScreenBufferInfo:CONSOLE_SCREEN_BUFFER_INFO

  invoke GetStdHandle,STD_OUTPUT_HANDLE
  mov hConsoleOutput,eax
  invoke GetStdHandle,STD_INPUT_HANDLE
  mov hConsoleInput,eax

  invoke WriteConole,hConsoleOutput,addr helloText,11,0,0
  ret
main endp
end program


I've tried using the ReadConsole and the ReadConsoleInput, but they just pass through without prompting.  I remember reading that I'll have to tell the system to wait for a certain input (i.e. "enter"), then read the buffer to an array, but I haven't been able to figure out how to do this.  I figure I'll have to use a hook, or figure out how to use raw input, but I have yet to successfully use either of these.

For everyone that's helped me so far, I thank you much.  Over the last week a lot has come together because of the information that I've received here.  Now, if I can just figure out how to use the Windows API the down and dirty way, I'll be happy (for now).

[MichaelW]

For working examples you might take a look at the input macro in macros.asm, and at the StdIn and StdOut procedures in m32lib\stdin.asm and m32lib\stdout.asm.

[Spudster]

Oh, beautiful.  That's just what I was looking for.  Thanks.  I was looking at macros.asm, and was confused where the code was coming from.  That explains it.

[Damos]

So basically writing text to the console involves getting the 'STD_OUTPUT_HANDLE' and using that to 'WriteFile'. very intresting, and I thought that StdOut was an actual low level api call,  I wish I had a list of the very bare bones windows api functions, you now the functions that don't call any other, the lowest common denominator so to speak.

[Neil]

Is what you want?

                   http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa383749(VS.85).aspx