Pause screen at program completion in C

Question

I want to be able to do something along the lines of Press any key to exit at program completion, but have no been able to figure out how to.

When I run my program, the terminal exits before I can see the results.

//by Nyxm
#include <stdio.h>

main() {

    int temp, x, flag, num, size;

    printf("\nEnter how many numbers you wish to enter: ");
    scanf("%d", &size);
    int array[size];

    for (x = 0; x < size; x++) {
        printf("Enter an integer: ");
        scanf("%d", &num);
        array[x] = num;
    }

    printf("Please enter either 1 or 2\n1:\tAscending\n2:\tDescending\n\n...");
    scanf("%d", &num);

    if (num == 1) {
        flag = 0;
        while (flag == 0) {
            flag = 1;
            for (x = 1; x < size; x++) {
                if (array[x] < array[x-1]) {
                    flag = 0;
                    temp = array[x];
                    array[x] = array[x-1];
                    array[x-1] = temp;
                }
            }
        }
        } else {
        flag = 0;
        while (flag == 0) {
            flag = 1;
            for (x = 1; x < size; x++) {
                if (array[x] < array[x-1]) {
                    flag = 0;
                    temp = array[x];
                    array[x] = array[x-1];
                    array[x-1] = temp;
                }
            }
        }
    }

    printf("\nYour sorted array:\n");
    for (x = 0; x < size; x++) {
        printf("%d\n", array[x]);
    }
}

Any suggestions?

I am using MonoDevelop in Wubi, if that makes any difference.

Answer 1

It's an old question but thought I'd add a technique I use when testing programs on a Windows box.

Compile program into an exe. And then create a batch script to "wrap" the program along the lines of:

@echo off
foo.exe
pause
exit

which will execute your program as it should be, without any dirty hacks, while allowing you to pause the window and see the output.

Answer 2

Use getchar():

...program...
printf("press enter to continue...\n");
getchar()

Answer 3

getchar() is the right way to go, but you'll run into problems caused by scanf leaving '\n' in the input buffer - it will return immediately. See Why doesn't getchar() wait for me to press enter after scanf()?

Answer 4

Depending on your need and platform, you may use getch() (or _getch()), or ultimately getchar().

The problem with getchar() is that it requires the user to press "enter". The advantage with getchar() is that it is standard and cross-platform.

getch() get all the other property : it just needs a key to be pressed, no display, no "enter" needed. But it's non standard, so support varies depending on platform.

Alternatively, for windows only, there is also :

system("pause");

Answer 5

Possible options: 1) system("pause"); 2) getch(); 3) getchar();

Answer 6

if we usegetchar();, getch(); or system("pause"); when we open the debug folder and run the file .exe it still exit immediately :)) i use cin >> variable; it certain pause the screen :))