Convert byte[] to string

[engine]

I am using a DllCall that returns a byte[] array. Now I need to decode that to a string. The byte[] array seems to contain arrays of strings.

Here is an example of what it is returning:

8;24;67;1;188;23;67;1;32;0;0;0;1;0;0;0;0;0;0;0;53;4;0;0;0;0;0;0;0;0;0;0;0;0;0;0;82;0;101;0;109;0;111

;0;116;0;101;0;32;0;65;0;99;0;99;0;101;0;115;0;115;0;32;0;65;0;117;0;116;0;111;0;32;0;67;0;111;0;110

;0;110;0;101;0;99;0;116;0;105;0;111;0;110;0;32;0;77;0;97;0;110;0;97;0;103;0;101;0;114;0;0;0;82;0;97;

0;115;0;65;0;117;0;116;0;111;0;0;0

The ";" are separating the elements of the byte array.

Thanks in advance.

[PsaltyDS]

I am using a DllCall that returns a byte[] array. Now I need to decode that to a string. The byte[] array seems to contain arrays of strings.

Here is an example of what it is returning:

The ";" are separating the elements of the byte array.

Thanks in advance.

If it's really a byte array, then here's my Bug Trac on it: Ticket #50 (assigned Feature Request)

But that has to do with returned arrays from COM interfaces. Are you sure it's a byte array? Can you post a link to the interface description?

[engine]

Thanks for you reply PsaltyDS.

Yes I am sure it is a byte array.

I am defining a structure like this:

DllStructCreate["ubyte[" & $Size & "]")

Where $Size was determined by a previous DllCall.

I need to call the same function in the dll again to fill the structure with the data.

I need to translate this data to a form, us humans can understand.

Edited July 25, 2008 by engine

[Richard Robertson]

Can you use char instead of ubyte? That should let you get it back as a string.

You could also use BinaryToString on the array that you are already using.

[engine]

Thanks.

Already tried char, but the data reported also contains non printing characters. It's really ugly! Also there are lots of null characters. They are working as separators for the elements in the ubyte array.

[Richard Robertson]

Ah, you'll have to whip up something custom then.

[engine]

Is there a way to get data from a pointer? I am pretty sure two of the elements in the structure are pointers to the data I need.

Let me explain better.

Those pointers aren't defined by me. So I can't access the data by calling DllStructGetData(). I have a pointer not a structure.

They are inside the ubyte[] array. I know those elements are pointers because I have decoded much of that data myself.

Thanks.

Edited July 25, 2008 by engine

[engine]

Never mind.

I already found how to get data from a pointer. By creating a new structure and supply that pointer.

Like this:

$tData = DllStructCreate( "ubyte[256]", DllStructGetData($tC, 1, 1) )oÝ÷ Ù8^¦§µêⱫ­¢+Ù±±MÑÉÕÑÑÑ ÀÌØíѰİĤoÝ÷ Ù8^u«Z"wv+"«­¢+Ù±±MÑÉÕÑÑÑ ÀÌØíÑѰĤ

Edited July 25, 2008 by engine

[ProgAndy]

Does this work: ?

$tData = DllStructCreate( "char[256]", DllStructGetData($tC, 1, 1) )

If Not, you could try to use BinaryToString Then you can specify if it is ANSI, UTF-8, UTF-16 Little Endian or UTF-16 Big Endian

Btw: Often, Windows Strings are encoded with UTF-16 Little Endian

[engine]

Thanks ProgAndy

Yes that works.

This problem is solved. I found the way to get all the data!

[Richard Robertson]

I suggested BinaryToString a while ago.

[PsaltyDS]

Thanks ProgAndy

Yes that works.

This problem is solved. I found the way to get all the data!

That's cool, glad you got it working.

But that's not a byte array, at least in the context I was talking about in my post. I'm not a C++ guy, but Valik and the Devs are, and they tried patiently to explain the difference.

I'm thinking because you are looking at returned elements from a DLL call, not a COM object reference, that I was off track bringing it up. The byte array object is not just an array (of bytes), or an array set in a DLL struct, and it presents problems for the Devs in determining how to handle them consistently. When they get the time to figure it out, we'll have our cake, and eat it too!