Syntax of Binary()

[SteveJM]

I have been looking at sending/receiving bytes down a serial interface and I got rather confused when using the Binary() command. I did a quick search of the forums without finding any further detail and then thrashed around experimenting, until I think I understand.

In the hope that this might help someone else starting down the same road, here is a trivial bit of code:

$a = Binary(0x12345678)
$b = Binary("ABCDEF")
$c = Binary("0x123456789")
$d = Binary("0x12345678")

MsgBox(0, Default, _
'Binary(0x12345678) gives ' & $a & ", a little-endian integer" & @CRLF & _
'Binary("ABCDEF") gives ' & $b & ", because it's a string. So" & @CRLF & _
'Binary("0x123456789") gives ' & $c & ", also a string, but" & @CRLF & _
'Binary("0x12345678") gives ' & $d & ". Syntax is the same, but now it's treated as Hex." & @CRLF & _
"The rule seems to be that if it can be treated as Hex, it will be!")

With hindsight, it is quite logical and has enough flexibility to cover the most useful cases.

[PhoenixXL]

It seems that if the Number followed by 0x is 8 in number then it is treated as a Hex..

[PhoenixXL]

Here are some results I got

$nBin = BinaryLen('0x')
ConsoleWrite('0 Length: '&$nBin&@CR)
$nBin = BinaryLen('0x1')
ConsoleWrite('01 Length: '&$nBin&@CR)
$nBin = BinaryLen('0x12')
ConsoleWrite('02 Length: '&$nBin&@CR)
$nBin = BinaryLen('0x123')
ConsoleWrite('03 Length: '&$nBin&@CR)
$nBin = BinaryLen('0x1234')
ConsoleWrite('04 Length: '&$nBin&@CR)
$nBin = BinaryLen('0x1235')
ConsoleWrite('05 Length: '&$nBin&@CR)
$nBin = BinaryLen('0x12356')
ConsoleWrite('06 Length: '&$nBin&@CR)
$nBin = BinaryLen('0x1342567')
ConsoleWrite('07 Length: '&$nBin&@CR)
$nBin = BinaryLen('0x12345678')
ConsoleWrite('08 Length: '&$nBin&@CR)
$nBin = BinaryLen('0x098765432')
ConsoleWrite('09 Length: '&$nBin&@CR)
$nBin = BinaryLen('0x1234567890')
ConsoleWrite('10 Length: '&$nBin&@CR)
$nBin = BinaryLen('0x09876543212')
ConsoleWrite('11 Length: '&$nBin&@CR)
$nBin = BinaryLen('0x123456789012')
ConsoleWrite('12 Length: '&$nBin&@CR)

#cs
Hence we conclude that on every Even Number it is treated as a Hex and Hence the Binary Length is Half its Length,
and on Every Prime Number we get the total number of strings + 2 because of 0x.
#ce

[FireFox]

Hi,

It's called BinaryLen but it can calc the length of every base from 0 to 16, and even if the "Binary" is invalid, it returns the length of the specified string.

"0x" is used to specify that it's hexadecimal, so "0x" is not a binary that's why you get 0.

Hope I'm right.

Edit : Be sure that what you pass as a parameter is in Binary type, otherwise the length won't be correct.

Br, FireFox.

Edited September 26, 2012 by FireFox