How do I use the L switch with a variable name? - c++

Question

I have this code:
#include <iostream>
#include <io.h>
#include <fcntl.h>
int main()
{
_setmode(_fileno(stdout), _O_U16TEXT);
std::string t_prefix = "\u2554";
std::string t_middle = "";
std::string t_suffix = "\u2557\n\u2551";
int max_message_length = 33;
for (int i = t_middle.length(); i < max_message_length; i++) {
t_middle = "\u2550" + t_middle;
}
std::string complete_message = t_prefix + t_middle + t_suffix;
std::wcout << L"\u2554" << t_middle.c_str() << L"\u2557\n\u2551";
std::wcout << complete_message.c_str();
//std::wcout << L"\u2554\n";
}
The first wout line prints the first and last part right, the middle section prints out garbage because it does not have the L in it. (How do I use the L with a variable?)
The second wout line combines the prefix, message, and suffix prints out garbage since it needs the L switch to print properly? I find a million of examples of how to do it with straight hard coded text L"\u2554\u2550\u2550" ect ect but I wanted the program to be a little more flexible so the game boarder could be wider if so set.

Answer 1

This seems to work and do what I need it to do at least for windows:
#include <io.h>
#include <fcntl.h>
#include <iostream>
#include <string>
int main()
{
_setmode(_fileno(stdout), _O_U8TEXT);
std::wstring t_prefix { L'\u2554' };
std::wstring t_suffix { L"\u2557\n\u2551" };
std::wstring t_middle;
const size_t max_message_length { 33 };
for (size_t i { t_middle.size() }; i < max_message_length; ++i)
{
t_middle += L'\u2550';
}
std::wstring complete_message { t_prefix + t_middle + t_suffix };
std::wcout << complete_message << '\n';
}
and this is suppose to work on linux:
#include <iostream>
int main()
{
std::string t_prefix = "╔";
std::string t_middle;
std::string t_suffix = "╗\n║";
int max_message_length = 33;
for (int i = t_middle.size(); i < max_message_length; ++i)
t_middle = "═" + t_middle;
std::string complete_message = t_prefix + t_middle + t_suffix;
std::cout << complete_message << '\n';
}