Accessing specific element of array of strings, with an integer index

Question

I want to access to specific element of array using number that generated randomly.

for example,

I want to generate random number 0-9. After number is generated (in this example we assume random number is generated as 4), I want to access array5 and print screen.

How could I success this.

String array initialization code is below

I edited my code as equal size string like below. Each strings have 8 char.

How can I generate random number?

org 100h

array0:    db      "abstract", 0Dh,0Ah, 24h
array1:    db      "academic", 0Dh,0Ah, 24h
array2:    db      "accurate", 0Dh,0Ah, 24h
array3:    db      "bacteria", 0Dh,0Ah, 24h
array4:    db      "attorney", 0Dh,0Ah, 24h
array5:    db      "equation", 0Dh,0Ah, 24h
array6:    db      "umbrella", 0Dh,0Ah, 24h
array7:    db      "overcome", 0Dh,0Ah, 24h
array8:    db      "universe", 0Dh,0Ah, 24h
array9:    db      "analysis", 0Dh,0Ah, 24h

Answer 1

An alternative way to Peter's solution is to scan for the $-terminator random_number times:

     MOV BX,random_number   
     MOV DI,offset array0  ; Beginning of strings. 
     MOV CX,offset arrayEnd; A label below all "arrays".
     SUB CX,DI             ; Let CX=total size of all strings.
     MOV AL,24h            ; '$' which terminates each string.
     CLD                   ; Ascending scan.
Next:REPNE SCASB           ; Search for '$', start at ES:DI.
     DEC BX                ; 
     JNZ Next              ; Repeat random_number times.
     MOV DX,DI             ; DI now points to the desired string.
     MOV AH,9              ; Use DOS function to print it. 
     INT 21h               ; Output $-terminated string at DS:DX.
     RET                   ; Terminate COM program.
    ; Data section follows:
array0:  db "Car", 0Dh, 0Ah, 24h  
 ...
arrayEnd:db 24h             ; End of strings 

The code is longer and slower, but it saves space in data section, because the strings don't have to be stuffed to unified length.