GetChar

Here are some examples of how to use GetChar.

GetChar("abcde", 0);  //this returns 'a'
GetChar("abcde", 2);  //this returns 'c'
GetChar("abcde", 4);  //this returns 'e'

This example prints a message on screen one character at a time in a randomized pattern. The text is displayed for one second and then removed in a similar fashion. Please note the use of the cast type c.

#define NUM_CHARS 6   //the length of str text

str text = "zdoom!";  //set NUM_CHARS to length
bool pos[NUM_CHARS];

script 1 (void)
{
  int i, j, x;  
  SetHudSize(640, 480, 1);
  for (i=0; i<NUM_CHARS; i++)
  {
    do { 
      j = random(0, NUM_CHARS - 1);
    } while (pos[j]);
    
    pos[j] = TRUE;
    x = 320.0 - NUM_CHARS * 10.0 / 2 + j * 10.0;
    HudMessage(c:GetChar(text, j); HUDMSG_PLAIN, j + 1, CR_RED, x, 240.0, 0);
    delay(5);
  }
  
  delay(35);
  for (i=0; i<NUM_CHARS; i++)
  {
    do {
      j = random(0, NUM_CHARS - 1);
    } while (!pos[j]);
    
    pos[j] = FALSE;
    HudMessage(c:' '; 0, j + 1, 0, 0, 0, 0);
    delay(5);
  }
}

Alternatively, you can define the pos boolean array size high, and use StrLen to set the number of loop iterations. This method is more flexible provided you don't exceed the array size.

str text = "zomg it's zdoom!";  
bool pos[255];

script 1 (void)
{
  int i, j, x;  
  SetHudSize(640, 480, 1);
  for (i=0; i<StrLen(text); i++)
  {
    do { 
      j = random(0, StrLen(text) - 1);
    } while (pos[j]);
   
    pos[j] = TRUE;
    x = 320.0 - StrLen(text) * 10.0 / 2 + j * 10.0;
    HudMessage(c:GetChar(text, j); HUDMSG_PLAIN, j + 1, CR_RED, x, 240.0, 0);
   
    if (GetChar(text, j) != ' ') //don't delay for blank spaces
      delay(5);
  }
 
  delay(35 + StrLen(text) * 2); //one second and 2 tics per character
  
  for (i=0; i<StrLen(text); i++)
  {
    do {
      j = random(0, StrLen(text) - 1);
    } while (!pos[j]);
   
    pos[j] = FALSE;
    HudMessage(c:' '; 0, j + 1, 0, 0, 0, 0);
    
    if (GetChar(text, j) != ' ') //don't delay for blank spaces
      delay(5);
  }
}