Convert serial.read() into a useable string using Arduino?

Question

I\'m using two Arduinos to sent plain text strings to each other using newsoftserial and an RF transceiver.

Each string is perhaps 20-30 characters in length. How do

Answer 1

Unlimited string readed

  String content = "";
  char character;

  while(Serial.available()) {
      character = Serial.read();
      content.concat(character);
  }

  if (content != "") {
    Serial.println(content);
  }

Answer 2

If you're using concatenate method then don't forget to trim the string if you're working with if else method.

Answer 3

From Help with Serial.Read() getting string:

char inData[20]; // Allocate some space for the string
char inChar=-1; // Where to store the character read
byte index = 0; // Index into array; where to store the character

void setup() {
    Serial.begin(9600);
    Serial.write("Power On");
}

char Comp(char* This) {
    while (Serial.available() > 0) // Don't read unless
                                   // there you know there is data
    {
        if(index < 19) // One less than the size of the array
        {
            inChar = Serial.read(); // Read a character
            inData[index] = inChar; // Store it
            index++; // Increment where to write next
            inData[index] = '\0'; // Null terminate the string
        }
    }

    if (strcmp(inData,This)  == 0) {
        for (int i=0;i<19;i++) {
            inData[i]=0;
        }
        index=0;
        return(0);
    }
    else {
        return(1);
    }
}

void loop()
{
    if (Comp("m1 on")==0) {
        Serial.write("Motor 1 -> Online\n");
    }
    if (Comp("m1 off")==0) {
        Serial.write("Motor 1 -> Offline\n");
    }
}

Answer 4

You can use Serial.readString() and Serial.readStringUntil() to parse strings from Serial on the Arduino.

You can also use Serial.parseInt() to read integer values from serial.

int x;
String str;

void loop() 
{
    if(Serial.available() > 0)
    {
        str = Serial.readStringUntil('\n');
        x = Serial.parseInt();
    }
}

The value to send over serial would be my string\n5 and the result would be str = "my string" and x = 5

Answer 5

String content = "";
char character;

if(Serial.available() >0){
//reset this variable!
  content = "";
 //make string from chars
 while(Serial.available()>0) {
   character = Serial.read();
   content.concat(character);
 }
 //send back   
 Serial.print("#");
 Serial.print(content);
 Serial.print("#");
 Serial.flush();
}

Answer 6

Credit for this goes to magma. Great answer, but here it is using c++ style strings instead of c style strings. Some users may find that easier.

String string = "";
char ch; // Where to store the character read

void setup() {
    Serial.begin(9600);
    Serial.write("Power On");
}

boolean Comp(String par) {
    while (Serial.available() > 0) // Don't read unless
                                   // there you know there is data
    {
        ch = Serial.read(); // Read a character
        string += ch; // Add it
    }

    if (par == string) {
        string = "";
        return(true);
    }
    else {
        //dont reset string
        return(false);
    }
}

void loop()
{
    if (Comp("m1 on")) {
        Serial.write("Motor 1 -> Online\n");
    }
    if (Comp("m1 off")) {
        Serial.write("Motor 1 -> Offline\n");
    }
}