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This example is for Wiring version 0024+. If you have a previous version, use the examples included with your software. If you see any errors or have comments, please let us know.

Read a string by BARRAGAN
Demonstrates how to read a string from the serial port It is important to use delimiters in the String to read for example read data until a '\n' or a designated character is found This example reads data from the serial and stores into a String variable until an 'L' is found, 'L' will be used as a terminator for the string for testing with the console Send. Change the 'L' for whatever delimitator you might want to use in your strings.

    char val;         // variable to receive data from the serial port
    String data = "";

    void setup()
    {
      Serial.begin(9600);       // start serial communication at 9600bps
    }

    void loop() {
      if( Serial.available() )  // if data is available to read
      {
        val = Serial.read();    // read it and store it in 'val'
        if( val != 'L' ) {      // if not an 'L'
          data+=val;            // add it to the data string
        } else {
          // if 'L' was received (our designated termination char)
          Serial.println("string received: "+data);  // print the stored string
          data = "";  // empty data for next string reading
        }
      }
    }