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To: python-list@python.org
From: Terry Reedy <tjreedy@udel.edu>
Subject: Re: cmd.exe on WIndows - problem with displaying some Unicode characters
Date: Mon, 04 Aug 2014 04:39:36 -0400
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On 8/3/2014 6:52 PM, Wiktor wrote:
>
> Hi,
>
> as OO programming exercise, I'm trying to port to Python one of my favo=
rite
> game from early'90 (Atari 65XL/XE) - Kolony (here's video from original=

> version on C64 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DUFycYOp2cbE, and here'=
s

This appears to be an actual text screen, no graphics.

> video from modern rewritten (for Atari emulators) version: Kolony 2106
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DeX20Qqqm5eg - you get the idea? ;-)).=


This appears to be text boxes on a graphics screen.

> OO Design is one thing, but I want to make it look as near as possible =
to
> the original (those windows-like menus in console window).

Which original? the C64 or Atari.  The important characteristic of both=20
is that both have multiple overlapping popup boxes. This means that=20
either you or a widget framework much keep track of stacking order and=20
how to restore what was hidden when a box goes away or is moved down in=20
the stacking order. I would not be surprised if the Atari had at least a =

rudimentary widget framework.

 > I tried to use
> 'standard' Unicode characters (I can see that most of my Windows monosp=
aced
> fonts have them) to draw frame around menu. Something like this:
>
>   =E2=94=8C=E2=94=80=E2=94=80=E2=94=80=E2=94=80=E2=94=80=E2=94=80=E2=94=
=80=E2=94=80=E2=94=80=E2=94=80=E2=94=80=E2=94=80=E2=94=80=E2=94=80=E2=95=96=

>   =E2=94=82 Construction =E2=95=91
>   =E2=94=82 Production   =E2=95=91
>   =E2=94=82 Research     =E2=95=91
>   =E2=94=82 Exploration  =E2=95=91
>   =E2=94=9C=C2=B7=C2=B7=C2=B7=C2=B7=C2=B7=C2=B7=C2=B7=C2=B7=C2=B7=C2=B7=
=C2=B7=C2=B7=C2=B7=C2=B7=E2=95=A2
>   =E2=94=82 Next turn    =E2=95=91
>   =E2=95=98=E2=95=90=E2=95=90=E2=95=90=E2=95=90=E2=95=90=E2=95=90=E2=95=
=90=E2=95=90=E2=95=90=E2=95=90=E2=95=90=E2=95=90=E2=95=90=E2=95=90=E2=95=9D=

>
> (I like the look of double lines on right and at the bottom)
> But when I try to print those characters, I get an error:
>
> | Traceback (most recent call last):
> |   File "E:\Moje dokumenty\python\kolony\menu.py", line 14, in <module=
>
> |     """
> |   File "C:\Python34\lib\encodings\cp852.py", line 19, in encode
> |     return codecs.charmap_encode(input,self.errors,encoding_map)[0]
> | UnicodeEncodeError: 'charmap' codec can't encode character '\u2556' i=
n position 1
> | 6: character maps to <undefined>

You have two separate problems with running in the windows console.

1. The character issue. If you run a program to just print the above=20
from an Idle editor, so that the output is printed to the Idle shell,=20
there should be no problem.
 >>> print('\u2556'*10)
=E2=95=96=E2=95=96=E2=95=96=E2=95=96=E2=95=96=E2=95=96=E2=95=96=E2=95=96=E2=
=95=96=E2=95=96
But characters are not your real issue.

2. The random access issue. The MS console in normal use is like a=20
serial printer or terminal. Once a line is printed, it cannot be=20
changed. I looked at the video and the program randomly accesses a 24 or =

25 line x 80 column screen, overprinting existing characters at will and =

reversing black on white versus white of black at will.  MSDOS screens=20
recognized standard ANSI screen control codes once the ANSI.SYS driver=20
was installed, which was fairly normal. But cmd.exe is actually a=20
regression from MS-DOS in that it apparently will not allow this.  Or it =

is a hugh pain.

You could get a program that emulates a full-screen ANSI terminal, and=20
learn to use ANSI control codes.  Or you could use a tkinter (tk) Text=20
widget. People have written at least serial terminal emulators for Text, =

but I did not find a full-screen.

Using tkinter, I would try making each box a separate text box placed in =

a frameand let tkinter worry about displaying them correctly and=20
detecting which box get a mouse click or <enter> key.

--=20
Terry Jan Reedy