Console animations

Question

I just want to know how to create simple animations like blinking, moving stuffs on C# console applications. Is there any special method for this?

Answer 1

I thought I'd chime in with my version of the previously listed code. Here it is:

class ConsoleSpinner
{
    bool increment = true,
         loop = false;
    int counter = 0;
    int delay;
    string[] sequence;

    public ConsoleSpinner(string sSequence = "dots", int iDelay = 100, bool bLoop = false)
    {
        delay = iDelay;
        if (sSequence == "dots")
        {
            sequence = new string[] { ".   ", "..  ", "... ", "...." };
            loop = true;
        }
        else if (sSequence == "slashes")
            sequence = new string[] { "/", "-", "\\", "|" };
        else if (sSequence == "circles")
            sequence = new string[] { ".", "o", "0", "o" };
        else if (sSequence == "crosses")
            sequence = new string[] { "+", "x" };
        else if (sSequence == "arrows")
            sequence = new string[] { "V", "<", "^", ">" };
    }

    public void Turn()
    {
        if (loop)
        {
            if (counter >= sequence.Length - 1)
                increment = false;
            if (counter <= 0)
                increment = true;

            if (increment)
                counter++;
            else if (!increment)
                counter--;
        }
        else
        {
            counter++;

            if (counter >= sequence.Length)
                counter = 0;
        }

        Console.Write(sequence[counter]);
        Console.SetCursorPosition(Console.CursorLeft - sequence[counter].Length, Console.CursorTop);

        System.Threading.Thread.Sleep(delay);
    }
}

Adds delay (unfortunately through Thread.Sleep() but, hey), the ability to loop the animation forwards and backwards (starts to reverse when it hits the end), and general improvements overall. Enjoy!