6. Lowercase Function

In this video, you'll enable the program to handle both uppercase and lowercase letters and program a message for the user.

The starter project contains a function that converts uppercase letters to a lowercase letters.

It uses a string of letters, just like the answer variable.

The string is called alphabet, and it includes all lowercase letters.

The function selects a letter from the string.

Then, it searches through the letters of the alphabet to find the letter that matches it.

It then sets another variable called letter to the lowercase version of the letter.

After you use this function, the variable letter will contain the lowercase version of the letter you passed in.

The function is defined in the starter project, but you still need to call it to convert any uppercase letters the user inputs to lowercase letters.

From the more blocks menu, add a lowercase block above the switch costume block.

Drag the letter of-block out of the switch costume block, into the lowercase block.

This will change the each letter the user types into a lowercase letter and stores the new letter in the letter variable.

Add the letter variable into the switch costume block.

Click the flag to test and type in a name.

Great!

Next, choose a backdrop and program a short message for the user.

You can choose one of the backdrops in the starter project.

Pick one from the scratch library or draw your own.

This example uses the summer backdrop from the starter project.

Next, add a character to your animation.

This example uses a blue Giga sprite from the Backpack.

Use a sprite from the sprite library, an image you may have, a character you drew in the paint editor, or a sprite from your own backpack.

Next, program the sprite to start talking after the letters begin to animate.

Click the letter sprite and add a broadcast block to the bottom of the code stack.

Name the message something unique or use the default message, message1.

Program the character to receive that message and start talking.

Select the character sprite and add a when I receive message.

Make sure the message you created is selected in the drop down menu.

Add a save block.

Program the character to greet the user with the name they typed in.

Add a join block.

In the first blank, write something like, hey.

Add a space after your greeting.

In the other blank, add the answer block.

Click the flag and type in a name to test.

Great, the character says, hey Quinn.

Add more save blocks to your message.

This example says, you're awesome, I hope you have the best day ever.

Your message can say whatever you'd like.

Now it's your turn.

Use the lowercase function to convert any uppercase letters to lowercase letters.

Add a new sprite.

Broadcast a message after the animation to tell the new sprite to talk.

Program the sprite to greet the user with the name they input.

Add your own custom message.