How to put a binary string into an array?

[emendelson]

I would be very grateful for any information on a fast and efficient way to put the contents of a binary file into an array.

This question derives from this message (message 12 in the linked thread):

http://www.autoitscript.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=120667&view=findpost&p=838917

In that message, Martin provided a way to put a binary string into an array, but he observes that his method is very slow, and suggested that I ask for a faster one.

Can anyone offer a faster method? Many thanks for any help.

Edited October 11, 2010 by Edward Mendelson

[Ascend4nt]

$hFile=FileOpen("binary.file",16)
$binBuf=FileRead($hFile)
$iErr=@error
$iBytes=@extended
FileClose($hFile)
If Not $iErr Then
    $aArray=StringRegExp(StringTrimLeft($binBuf,2),'..',3)
    ConsoleWrite("Bytes read:"&$iBytes&", Array size:"&UBound($aArray)&@CRLF)
;~  _ArrayDisplay($aArray,"Binary dump") ; (will take a lot of memory/time for big arrays)
EndIf

*edit: @error check instead of $iErr

Edited October 11, 2010 by Ascend4nt

[martin]

$hFile=FileOpen("binary.file",16)
$binBuf=FileRead($hFile)
$iErr=@error
$iBytes=@extended
FileClose($hFile)
If Not $iErr Then
    $aArray=StringRegExp(StringTrimLeft($binBuf,2),'..',3)
    ConsoleWrite("Bytes read:"&$iBytes&", Array size:"&UBound($aArray)&@CRLF)
;~  _ArrayDisplay($aArray,"Binary dump") ; (will take a lot of memory/time for big arrays)
EndIf

*edit: @error check instead of $iErr

Actually it's "how to put the binary string into a dllstruct which is a byte array?". I thought that I could have a char array struct created at the same address as the byte array struct and do something like dllstructsetdata($Struct,1,BinaryToString($binBuf)) but it doesn't work. It is probably obvious but I've got a bit rusty with AutoIt.

[Ascend4nt]

Even simpler:

$hFile=FileOpen("binary.file",16)
$binBuf=FileRead($hFile)
$iErr=@error
$iBytes=@extended
FileClose($hFile)
If Not $iErr Then
    $stStr=DllStructCreate("byte["&$iBytes&"]")
    DllStructSetData($stStr,1,$binBuf)
EndIf

*edit: NOTE: The $binBuf can either be binary, or a binary string ("0x1A2B3C")

Edited October 11, 2010 by Ascend4nt

[martin]

Even simpler:

$hFile=FileOpen("binary.file",16)
$binBuf=FileRead($hFile)
$iErr=@error
$iBytes=@extended
FileClose($hFile)
If Not $iErr Then
    $stStr=DllStructCreate("byte["&$iBytes&"]")
    DllStructSetData($stStr,1,$binBuf)
EndIf

*edit: NOTE: The $binBuf can either be binary, or a binary string ("0x1A2B3C")

Yes you're right, it is as simple as that. Thanks Ascend4nt. Edited October 12, 2010 by martin