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Java

Brian Pedigo
Brian Pedigo
26,786 Points
Posted by Brian Pedigo
Brian Pedigo
26,786 Points

Clear console with a Java Method

I am trying to write a method in Java that clear the console. However, I haven't been able to come up with anything successful. I have come up with the following code but it doesn't seem to work. I understand there is a work around by creating a method that prints a lot of new lines to the screen but that's not quite what I was looking for. If anyone has some ideas on how to do this that would be awesome! 

public void cls()
    {
        try 
        {
            Runtime.getRuntime().exec("cmd /c cls");
        }
        catch(final Exception e)
        {
            System.out.print(e);
        }

    }

1 Answer

Ken Alger
STAFF
Ken Alger
Treehouse Teacher
Ken Alger
Ken Alger
Treehouse Teacher

Brian;

One method to use which would also provide support for Windows and Linux operating systems would be something similar to:

public final static void clearConsole()
{
    try
    {
        final String os = System.getProperty("os.name");

        if (os.contains("Windows"))
        {
            Runtime.getRuntime().exec("cls");
        }
        else
        {
            Runtime.getRuntime().exec("clear");
        }
    }
    catch (final Exception e)
    {
        //  Handle any exceptions.
    }
}

Note that this method generally will not clear the console if you are running inside an IDE.

Happy coding,

Ken

sradms0
.a{fill-rule:evenodd;}techdegree seal-36
sradms0
Treehouse Project Reviewer

Linux is a kernel, not an OS. It is most likely GNU/Linux that you are referring to.