Pausing a C++ Program

**Synapse** · 30-03-10, 03:26 AM

Greetings everyone!

I'm currently trying to grasp the basics of C++. I've been using 'system("PAUSE")' to pause a program but according to a number of programmers, this is a rather bad habit. Is there a better, more efficient way to pause a program please? I'm currently using Visual Studio 2008.

Help is always much appreciated.

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**~~P1raten~~** · 30-03-10, 08:10 AM

Why would you need to pause a program?

**Synapse** · 30-03-10, 08:29 AM

Let's take this program as an example:

Code:

// This programs converts feet to metres or vice versa

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

int main ()
{
    short userchoice;
    double metres;
    double feet;

    cout << "To convert feet to metres, please press 1\n";
    cout << "To convert metres to feet, please press 2\n";
    cin >> userchoice;
    cout << "\n";

    if (userchoice == 1)
    {
        cout << "Please enter the number of feet: ";
        cin >> feet;
        metres = feet/3.28;
        cout << feet << " feet = " << metres << " metres\n";
    }

    if (userchoice == 2)
    {
        cout << "Please enter the number of metres: ";
        cin >> metres;
        feet = metres*3.28;
        cout << metres << " metres = " << feet << " feet\n";
    }

    cout << "\n";
    system("PAUSE");
    return 0;
}

In this case, a pause is needed after displaying the result or else the program would instantly close without allowing the user to see it. Should I stick to 'system("PAUSE")' for simple programs?

**~~P1raten~~** · 01-04-10, 02:58 AM

Originally Posted by Synapse

Let's take this program as an example:

Code:

// This programs converts feet to metres or vice versa

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

int main ()
{
    short userchoice;
    double metres;
    double feet;

    cout << "To convert feet to metres, please press 1\n";
    cout << "To convert metres to feet, please press 2\n";
    cin >> userchoice;
    cout << "\n";

    if (userchoice == 1)
    {
        cout << "Please enter the number of feet: ";
        cin >> feet;
        metres = feet/3.28;
        cout << feet << " feet = " << metres << " metres\n";
    }

    if (userchoice == 2)
    {
        cout << "Please enter the number of metres: ";
        cin >> metres;
        feet = metres*3.28;
        cout << metres << " metres = " << feet << " feet\n";
    }

    cout << "\n";
    system("PAUSE");
    return 0;
}

In this case, a pause is needed after displaying the result or else the program would instantly close without allowing the user to see it. Should I stick to 'system("PAUSE")' for simple programs?

I suggest that you download Visual Studio, since you don't need to pause the program if you use it.

To run the program simply press ctrl + F5

**Synapse** · 01-04-10, 06:56 AM

Thanks for the tip mate!

**~~Diocia~~** · 09-04-10, 11:10 PM

you could create a loop that after the program is run, it asks if the user wants to run the program again. If so loop to the beginning, if not the program exits.