/// <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); }