How can I update the current line in a C# Windows Console App?

Question

When building a Windows Console App in C#, is it possible to write to the console without having to extend a current line or go to a new line? For example, if I want to sho

Answer 1

Here is my take on s soosh's and 0xA3's answers. It can update the console with user messages while updating the spinner and has an elapsed time indicator aswell.

public class ConsoleSpiner : IDisposable
{
    private static readonly string INDICATOR = "/-\\|";
    private static readonly string MASK = "\r{0} {1:c} {2}";
    int counter;
    Timer timer;
    string message;

    public ConsoleSpiner() {
        counter = 0;
        timer = new Timer(200);
        timer.Elapsed += TimerTick;
    }

    public void Start() {
        timer.Start();
    }

    public void Stop() {
        timer.Stop();
        counter = 0;
    }

    public string Message {
        get { return message; }
        set { message = value; }
    }

    private void TimerTick(object sender, ElapsedEventArgs e) {
        Turn();
    }

    private void Turn() {
        counter++;
        var elapsed = TimeSpan.FromMilliseconds(counter * 200);
        Console.Write(MASK, INDICATOR[counter % 4], elapsed, this.Message);
    }

    public void Dispose() {
        Stop();
        timer.Elapsed -= TimerTick;
        this.timer.Dispose();
    }
}

usage is something like this:

class Program
{
    static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        using (var spinner = new ConsoleSpiner())
        {
            spinner.Start();
            spinner.Message = "About to do some heavy staff :-)"
            DoWork();
            spinner.Message = "Now processing other staff".
            OtherWork();
            spinner.Stop();
        }
        Console.WriteLine("COMPLETED!!!!!\nPress any key to exit.");

    }
}