Read multiple character on the terminal??

Projects Programming
1

I'm writing this a small code for my project - Its a communication between XCTU and Arduino with Xbee module
Here is the code that I have so far, basically, when type in "1" or "2" in the XCTU terminal, the Arduino will activate one of the output to light up the LED,
but I want to change this code to be able to read more than a character on the terminal, for example, when I type in "ONE" or "TWO" in the XCTU terminal, the Arduino will activate the output. Can someone please help me on the coding???

void setup()
{
Serial.begin(9600); //initialize serial
pinMode(7, OUTPUT); //set pin 7 as output Yellow LED
pinMode(6, OUTPUT); //set pin 6 as output Red LED
}

void loop()
{
while(Serial.available())
{ //is there anything to read?
char getData = Serial.read(); //if yes, read it

if(getData == '1'){
Serial.println(""); // prints another carriage return
digitalWrite(7, HIGH);
Serial.print("YELLOW LED ON ");
Serial.println(""); // prints another carriage return
delay(2000);
digitalWrite(7, LOW);
Serial.print("YELLOW LED OFF ");
Serial.println(""); // prints another carriage return
}else if(getData == '2'){
Serial.println(""); // prints another carriage return
digitalWrite(6, HIGH);
Serial.print("RED LED ON ");
Serial.println(""); // prints another carriage return
delay(2000);
digitalWrite(6, LOW);
Serial.print("RED LED OFF ");
Serial.println(""); // prints another carriage return
}
}
}

2

it'd be easier just to use single letters, but, you can if you want. put your code in the code brackets,too.

it can only read one char at a time, so you could have a counter and then test if the 1st,2nd,3rd value are t,w,o? or maybe add each input to a string and then test the string?

3

but I want to change this code to be able to read more than a character on the terminal, for example, when I type in "ONE" or "TWO" in the XCTU terminal, the Arduino will activate the output. Can someone please help me on the coding???

It's relatively easy. But, how do you know when to quit reading? ONE and TWO are both the same length, but THREE is longer. FOUR is longer than ONE but shorter than THREE.

4

Is it possible to provide an example ? because I'm new to Arduino and I have been trying different methods but still can't get it right.

5

So show what you have been trying and we can point out where you are going wrong.
Also describe the method that you think you are implementing.