user input within 10 seconds

[raydona]

I am writing a small games program, console not Windows application, that requires the user to enter an integer within 10 seconds. If none is entered the system takes a different course of action. How can I code this, that is, say:
int x;
cin >> x; //within 10 seconds

I would be very grateful for all help.

 

[xwb]

If you are using DOS, you could try something like

time_t now, expire;
expire = time(NULL) + 10;
now = time(NULL);
while (!_kbhit() && now < expire)
{
   now = time(NULL);
}
if (kbhit())
   cin >> x;

If you're on Windows, theh try having a look at SIGALRM. It may or may not work.

You could also try overlapped input (look up high-level console functions) and set some kind of timeout accordingly.



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