This only applies to c++ programmers.
How c-style strings are dangerous
Let's say that you are making an editable name. You type this code in:

char* name = "bob";
name[0] = 'B';//BUG!

The first line assigns a name to name, but it's a const char*! When the second line tries to edit the const char it has an error and might crash. The compiler doesn't detect this because it sees it as you modifing a char*.
You can still assign a different value to the whole pointer though:

char* name = "Bob";
name = "Joe";

With character arrays this isn't a problem because the compiler automatically copies the characters into the array.
char name[] = "Bob";//Works fine.
One of the major problems with character arrays is that they can write on top of uncharted memory. Consider this example:

char name[] = "Bob";
strcpy(name,"This_name_is_too_long!");
//Writes into unknown space, possibly over another object!

this can also happen if the user forgets to put a terminating NULL on the end of the string.

char* make_all_ms(char in)
{
for(int i = 0; in<i> != '\0';i++)
in<i> = 'm';
}
char name[4];
name[0] = 'H';
name[1] = 'i';
name = make_all_ms(name);//BUG!

The solution to all your problems:
Use the string class in the std namespace.It has all the functionality of a c-style string exept it is safer and easier to use. Some examples are shown below.

using namespace std;
string str1 = "Hello World!";//This works.
string str2;
str1 += "I own a lizard."
//concatenates the strings. Now is "Hello World!I own a lizard."
str2 = str1;

Also if you need to use a c-style string in a function or something you can do this:

string name = "Bob";
textprintf(screen,font,0,0,0,0,name.c_str());

The string cleans itself up when it goes out of scope.

I recommend ropes myself for large chunks of text. In such a case regular strings can wreak havock

A rope (IPA: rəʊp) is a length of fibers, twisted or braided together to improve strength for pulling and connecting. It has tensile strength but is too flexible to provide compressive strength (i.e., it can be used for pulling, not pushing). Rope is thicker and stronger than similarly constructed cord, line, string, or twine. Common materials for rope include natural fibers such as Manila hemp, hemp, linen, cotton, coir, jute, and sisal. Synthetic fibers in use for rope-making include polypropylene, nylon, polyester (e.g. PET), polyethylene (e.g. Spectra) and Aramids (e.g. Twaron, Technora and Kevlar). Some ropes are constructed of mixtures of several fibres or use co-polymer fibres. Ropes can also be made out of metal fibers. Ropes have been constructed of other fibrous materials such as silk, wool, and hair, but such ropes are not generally available.

The use of ropes for hunting, pulling, fastening, attaching, carrying, lifting, and climbing dates back to prehistoric times and has always been essential to mankind's technological progress.

I could, but I didn't.

No, really?

Oh come on, the string class was probably the first thing I learned from STL. It's really not that hard to find and there are a lot of examples out there on how to use it. Your post is just nothing new, sorry.

Besides, since it's not a programming question, I believe it doesn't belong to this forum

You programmer must know what you do.

If not, go with some scripting language who will get the job done for you.

C is not for quiche eater. I said.

_

No, the alien have not invaded C, that common knowledge they are residing inside the stl ;-p

"How much C could a C++ if a C+ could +C?"

A lot of experts use C over C++, and the two can be combined in as much or as little quantity as desired. I simply prefer some of the coding conventions of C++ over C and have only recently started taking advantage of some of the more advanced C++ features.

...C++ string objects still scare me though.

--- Kris Asick (Gemini)
--- http://www.pixelships.com

What are they then if they are only like arrays of characters?

Why?

C++ string objects do?

basic_string is a templated typedef, but what uses a template argument in basic_string?

just store all strings on the heap, and remember to free them.

Oh goody, I'm going to go for the high score!