Why doesn't this simple program work?

Question

I'm trying to sort out everything concerning the way Unicode works in Windows console applications. Why doesn't this simple program work?

#include <iostream>

int wmain(int argc, const wchar_t* const argv[])
{
    for (int i = 1; i < argc; ++i)
        std::wcout << argv[i] << std::endl;

    return 0;
}

Compiled with

>cl /EHsc /D _UNICODE /D UNICODE /Zc:wchar_t test.cpp

the program produces

> test.exe 1 2 3 abc абв
1
2
3
abc

Where is the fifth argument? I have to mention that абв fits into both my GetACP() and GetConsoleCP() & GetConsoleOutputCP() code pages (1251, 866 & 866). It's interesting that the program works (in a way) with the characters outside of those code pages:

> test.exe Sæter
Sцter

But:

> test.exe абв Sæter

If you do `test.exe 1 2 3 abc абв > output.txt`, is the output file correct? — Benoit, Dec 04 '13 at 14:34

score 2 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 12:01

2

I think this is because wcout converts to narrow characters.

See this other question about this topic.

Another good link.

edited May 23 '17 at 12:01

Community

1
1

answered Dec 04 '13 at 14:36

Benoit

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So what's so special about converting to narrow characters? `абв` belongs to the code pages I use. – Egor Tensin Dec 04 '13 at 14:41
Ok, `std::wcout` does indeed set the `badbit`. Wonder why this happens, a proper investigation is to take place. – Egor Tensin Dec 04 '13 at 14:54

Why doesn't this simple program work?

1 Answers1