# Read string from MEMPROG **URL:** \ **Category:** Programming\ **Created:** [October 4, 2026, 4:21pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/read-string-from-memprog/1462156 "2026-10-04T16:21:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![tursaba](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/tursaba/32/1285396_2.png) [@tursaba](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/tursaba)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2026, 4:21pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/read-string-from-memprog/1462156/1 "2026-10-04T16:21:02Z")
I need some help please. Declared array: const char Bet\_ve[6][10] PROGMEM= { "text1","text2","text3 ","text4","text5 ", }; char name[8]; name= char buffer [strlen\_P(Bet\_ve [text\_number] ) ]; I got "Compilation error: expected primary-expression before 'char' " Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![UKHeliBob](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/ukhelibob/32/215663_2.png) [@UKHeliBob](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/UKHeliBob)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2026, 4:33pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/read-string-from-memprog/1462156/2 "2026-10-04T16:33:30Z")
As your topic does not relate directly to the installation or operation of the IDE it has been moved to the Programming category of the forum Please post a small but complete sketch that illustrates your problem ---
**Author:** ![van\_der\_decken](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/van_der_decken/32/1006976_2.png) [@van\_der\_decken](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/van_der_decken)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2026, 4:39pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/read-string-from-memprog/1462156/3 "2026-10-04T16:39:44Z")
> [@tursaba](#): > > name= char buffer [strlen\_P(Bet\_ve [text\_number] ) ]; While you omitted telling us exactly _where_ said error occurred (snipperitis strikes again!), I'll wager it's in the above line. It confuses me, and I imagine the compiler is equally confused. Could you explain just what it is you thought it would do? ---
**Author:** ![BitSeeker](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/bitseeker/32/1241632_2.png) [@BitSeeker](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/BitSeeker)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2026, 8:27pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/read-string-from-memprog/1462156/4 "2026-10-04T20:27:12Z")
I dare say the line below will confuse it as well... ---
**Author:** ![xfpd](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/xfpd/32/1120236_2.png) [@xfpd](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/xfpd)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2026, 8:38pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/read-string-from-memprog/1462156/5 "2026-10-04T20:38:25Z")
"name" needs ~~an address or~~ brackets as "buffer" has brackets. This: ```arduino const char Bet_ve[6][10] PROGMEM = { "text1", "text2", "text3", "text4", "text5" }; char name[8]; char buffer[8]; int text_number = 3; void setup() { name[text_number] = buffer[strlen_P(Bet_ve[text_number])]; } void loop() {} ``` Yields this: ```arduino Sketch uses 444 bytes (1%) of program storage space. Maximum is 30720 bytes. Global variables use 9 bytes (0%) of dynamic memory, leaving 2039 bytes for local variables. Maximum is 2048 bytes. ``` But this... ```arduino const char Bet_ve[6][10] PROGMEM = { "text1", "text2", "text3", "text4", "text5" }; char name[8]; char buffer[8]; int text_number = 3; void setup() { name = char buffer[strlen_P(Bet_ve[text_number])]; } void loop() {} ``` Yields this... ```arduino sketch_oct4a.ino:7:10: error: expected primary-expression before 'char' name = char buffer[strlen_P(Bet_ve[text_number])]; ^~~~ exit status 1 Compilation error: expected primary-expression before 'char' ``` ---
**Author:** ![J-M-L](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/j-m-l/32/766245_2.png) [@J-M-L](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/J-M-L)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2026, 7:49am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/read-string-from-memprog/1462156/6 "2026-10-05T07:49:35Z")
> [@tursaba](#): > > name= char buffer [strlen\_P(Bet\_ve [text\_number] ) ]; you can't write `name = char buffer[...]`. The compiler sees `char` where it expects an expression after `=`, hence "expected primary-expression before 'char'". Note also that `name` is a fixed-size array of 8 elements and arrays can't be assigned to with `=` in C/C++ at all ➜ you need to copy the bytes into that array if you need a RAM based copy. ```arduino const char Bet_ve[6][10] PROGMEM = { "text1", "text2", "text3 ", "text4", "text5 ", }; char name[10]; // big enough for the longest entry + null void getText(uint8_t text_number) { strlcpy_P(name, (char*)Bet_ve[text_number], sizeof name); } ``` ---
**Author:** ![david\_2018](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/david_2018/32/1013044_2.png) [@david\_2018](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/david_2018)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2026, 10:33am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/read-string-from-memprog/1462156/7 "2026-10-05T10:33:57Z")
```arduino strlcpy_P(name, (char*)Bet_ve[text_number], sizeof name); ``` There is no need for the cast to char\*, Bet\_ve[text\_number] is already a const char\*. How is name being used? Many functions, such as print(), can take a char array directly from PROGMEM, making the ram copy unnecessary. ---
**Author:** ![J-M-L](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/j-m-l/32/766245_2.png) [@J-M-L](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/J-M-L)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2026, 10:58am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/read-string-from-memprog/1462156/8 "2026-10-05T10:58:42Z")
> [@david\_2018](#): > > There is no need for the cast to char\*, Bet\_ve[text\_number] is already a const char\*. You are totally right ```arduino const char Bet_ve[6][10] PROGMEM = { "text1", "text2", "text3 ", "text4", "text5 ", "" }; char name[10]; void getText(uint8_t text_number) { if (text_number >= sizeof Bet_ve / sizeof Bet_ve[0]) { name[0] = '\0'; return; } strlcpy_P(name, Bet_ve[text_number], sizeof name); } ``` And yes this is just in case > [@J-M-L](#): > > if you need a RAM based copy.