Hey I hope someone can help me with this little problem. Web searches have come up dry. I do my programming in Linux by the way... :-)

code example:

int main()
{
time_t calendar_time;
struct tm *local_time;
calendar_time=time(NULL);
local_time=localtime(&calendar_time);
/*display time*/
printf("time: %s\WHATGOESHERE", asctime(local_time));
main();
return 0;
}

I want to print OVER the SAME line. If i use \n or the like i obviously will get newlines--no want i want. Basically I am trying to print the time in a loop (in this case recursive function). If i print over and over the same line it will be a sort of clock.

So how would I do this? I am thinking there is some rarely used escape sequence that not many people know about. If this is the case please help me out and tell it to me :-D. If there is no escape sequence to do this, how else can I?

Thanks much.

\r is a carriage return.

i know the \r and that doesnt do the trick

As far as I know, that isn't possible when using printf() .. (?)

but you could use ncurses.

execv clear before each print, simulates writing over top the previoyus val. Also, why not get a system time to begin with then set an alarm for every second to update the time and reprint it. The one you have is too cpu intense.

If you're in console you can use ansi escape sequences to position the cursor. Also works in windowing, but you should use the windowing
system calls or ncurses.

http://www.dee.ufcg.edu.br/~rrbrandt/tools/ansi.html

thanks. i will try your suggestions. I have been looking around and agree that this is impossible with just an escape in printf().