runtime to clear console

[william kane]

how do i use Runtime class to clear the console?
I have tried runtime.exec("cls) but i get a IO exception.
Any pointers will be appreciated.
kane

[Cindy Glass]

Well it depends on your OS. You need to use whatever command works from the propmt on that OS.
This works for NT/Win2000 and I think 98
Runtime.getRuntime().exec( "cmd /c cls" ) ;
Before that (win95) you had to use
Runtime.getRuntime().exec( "command /c cls" ) ;
I am not sure what works for Unix.
This obviously will make the app OS specific, therefore a better bet is just to print out a bunch (maybe 30 or so) of newline characters to the console, which forces the stuff on the console to scroll up.