how to select name at random from list of names in text file?

I have text file that has list of names, and I want to choose one name in the list at random.

I want the names to flash one after another and then stop at one name at random ( the same method that use to select winner at random on some TV shows).

[Jan]

Do you have a question concerning a specific problem or Matlab?

Answer 1

[Matt Tearle]

General approach:

1. Read the names from file into a cell array of strings -- see textscan
2. Make a figure window with uicontrol textboxes
3. Set the String property of each textbox to one of the strings in the cell array (ie names)
4. Randomly select an integer from 1 to n (see randi)
5. Change the color (or whatever property) of the chosen textbox
6. Repeat some number of times, after a short pause

(Or cycle through in order, stopping at a random point, if you prefer.)