/// <summary>
/// helper method to get a valid integer from the user within a range
/// </summary>
/// <param name="minValue">inclusive minimum value</param>
/// <param name="maxValue">inclusive maximum value</param>
/// <param name="maxAttempts">maximum number of attempts</param>
/// <param name="pluralName">plural name of item</param>
/// <param name="validInput">indicates valid user input</param>
/// <returns></returns>
public static bool TryGetIntegerFromUser(int minValue, int maxValue, int maxAttempts, string pluralName, out int userInteger, bool enterCancelsOut = false)
{
bool validInput = false;
bool maxAttemptsExceeded = false;
string userResponse;
string feedbackMessage = "";
int attempts = 1;
userInteger = 0;
while (!validInput && !maxAttemptsExceeded)
{
//
// more attempts available
//
if (attempts <= maxAttempts)
{
ConsoleUtil.DisplayPromptMessage($"Enter the number, between {minValue} and {maxValue}, of {pluralName}:");
userResponse = Console.ReadLine();
if (enterCancelsOut && userResponse == "")
{
return(false);
}
ConsoleUtil.DisplayMessage("");
//
// input is an Integer
//
if (int.TryParse(userResponse, out userInteger))
{
//
// input is in range
//
if (userInteger >= minValue && userInteger <= maxValue)
{
validInput = true;
}
//
// input is not in range
//
else
{
feedbackMessage = $"The number {userInteger} is not in the specified range.";
}
}
//
// input is not an Integer
//
else
{
feedbackMessage = $"{userResponse} is not an integer.";
}
if (!validInput && attempts <= maxAttempts)
{
ConsoleUtil.DisplayMessage($"You entered: {userResponse}");
ConsoleUtil.DisplayMessage(feedbackMessage);
if (attempts < maxAttempts)
{
ConsoleUtil.DisplayMessage($"Please enter an integer between {minValue} and {maxValue}.");
ConsoleUtil.DisplayMessage("Press any key to try again.");
Console.ReadKey();
}
else
{
ConsoleUtil.DisplayMessage("It appears you have exceeded the maximum number of attempts allowed.");
ConsoleUtil.DisplayMessage("Press any key to continue.");
Console.ReadKey();
}
ConsoleUtil.DisplayReset();
}
else
{
ConsoleUtil.DisplayMessage("");
}
attempts++;
}
else
{
maxAttemptsExceeded = true;
}
}
return(validInput);
}