How to prevent output screen from disappear in Visual Studio 2013 C++ Compiler

Question

I just downloaded Visual Studio 2013. When I compile C, it doesn't show me my output. The output screen will show up for a brief second and then disappears.

#include <stdio.h>

int main()
{
    printf("hi");
    return 0;
}

"The program '[5688] Project1.exe' has exited with code 0 (0x0)." I know my code works and run correctly except I just can't make the output screen stay on without exiting after a second.

Run the .exe in command line, or add system("pause") at end of program. This also happen if you simply click the exe. Because windows close the command line immediately after program exit, just add a command that will pause. — moeCake, Dec 23 '13 at 03:59
@NishithJainMR: Despite the name, Microsoft Visual C++ _does_ include a C compiler. It's severely outdated (19 years) but that's still sufficient for such a simple program. — MSalters, Dec 23 '13 at 08:04
Possible duplicate of [Preventing console window from closing on Visual Studio C/C++ Console application](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1775865/preventing-console-window-from-closing-on-visual-studio-c-c-console-applicatio) — cxw, Jul 20 '16 at 22:57

score 29 · Accepted Answer · 2013-12-23T04:18:07.713

29

You can run the application in debug mode and in release mode. Normally Ctrl + F5 will run the application without debugger. And F5just runs the application.

If you do Ctrl+F5 ("Start without Debugging"), the console remains open at the end and asks you to Press any key to continue . . . here you can see the output.

If you are just using F5 then you are in a debug mode. At the end you add, getchar() function before retuen 0;so the console will wait until you press any key...

edited Dec 23 '13 at 04:18

answered Dec 23 '13 at 04:02

I tired using ctrl + F5 but it also just flashes the output for less than a sec then disappears. I also tried using getchar() but it doesn't work also. – user3128376 Dec 23 '13 at 04:11
1

int main() { printf("hi"); getchar(); return 0; } – Dec 23 '13 at 04:13
where are you adding getchar();? you have to add before return 0; – Dec 23 '13 at 04:14
Thanks guys, I got it. I accidentally put it after return 0. – user3128376 Dec 23 '13 at 04:21

score 11 · Answer 2 · answered Dec 23 '13 at 04:18

11

Another option in addition to what's already been mentioned is to go into the properties for the project and change the Subsystem in the System section in the Linker options to Console (/SUBSYSTEM:CONSOLE). Then the console window will remain when you run the program using ctrl+f5 (Debug/Start without debugging).

MSDN reference for the subsystem option.

answered Dec 23 '13 at 04:18

jpw

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how can you make this default option? – AK_ Aug 07 '14 at 05:14

Fiddling Bits · Answer 3 · 2013-12-23T04:14:18.507

3

There's several things you can do (I'm assuming you're using Windows):

Compile and execute your program using the Visual Studio Command Prompt program.
Add getchar(); before returning to the OS.
Add system("pause"); before returning to the OS.

edited Dec 23 '13 at 04:14

answered Dec 23 '13 at 04:01

Fiddling Bits

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score 3 · Answer 4 · answered Mar 01 '16 at 22:14

3

#include <stdlib.h>
#include <stdio.h>
int main()
{
  printf("hello world");
  system("pause"); //this pauses the program until you press any key 
  return 0;
}

the output will be:

hello world

press any key to continue ...

answered Mar 01 '16 at 22:14

james

41
1

score 2 · Answer 5 · 2013-12-23T04:32:24.020

2

add this code before return 0 ;

int  num;
scanf ("%d",&num);

or

getchar();

edited Dec 23 '13 at 04:32

answered Dec 23 '13 at 03:51

score 2 · Answer 6 · answered Dec 23 '13 at 08:06

2

I just put a breakpoint (F9 key) on the return 0 statement. Works only in debugging mode, but that's precisely what you want. If you run the program directly from the command line, it already works as intended.

answered Dec 23 '13 at 08:06

MSalters

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score 1 · Answer 7 · edited May 30 '17 at 17:18

1

To keep your screen from closing you can use getchar() as follow in Visual studio:

#include "stdafx.h"
#include <stdio.h>
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;


int main()
{
    cout << "Hello\n";
    getchar();

}

edited May 30 '17 at 17:18

Eric Aya

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answered May 30 '17 at 17:11

Debendra Dash

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score 0 · Answer 8 · answered Jun 21 '15 at 21:26

0

I use Visual Studio 2013 for Python and I also struggle with that problem. My solution is to press F5instead of Ctrl + F5, then I will have 2 pop-up windows (console and program output).

I close the console window and the other will be closed together.

answered Jun 21 '15 at 21:26

Duong Trung Nghia

310
4
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score 0 · Answer 9 · answered Jan 18 '16 at 10:44

I first used the metioned getchar() and breakpoints solutions but this is no good if you want the program to end (for example if you are using a memory leak detector). I got over this by redirecting the output to a file. You can do this by inserting >output.txt in the command line option under the debug section of project properties

score 0 · Answer 10 · answered Jul 02 '19 at 17:28

0

You can also hold CTRL + F5 to get the window to stay open.

answered Jul 02 '19 at 17:28

Marcus Lobo

1
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How to prevent output screen from disappear in Visual Studio 2013 C++ Compiler

10 Answers10