Convert HEX directly to DEC?

[+Larry]

With the "second generation" BASICs (BXL, BXE, TBXL, Altirra Basic, etc.), is it possible to directly convert a HEX number into DEC? All of these BASICs have a HEX$ function, and I thought there was a way to use the VAL function to do the reverse conversion. But there doesn't seem to be. (I know there is a short routine that can be used, but as I said, is there a direct way?)

 

-Larry

[drac030]

?$ABCD maybe

 

EDIT:

 

and if you mean to convert a hex number to a value (not just to a dec string), in TBXL there is DEC(), for example A=DEC("ABCD"). In BXE the VAL function you mention should work similarly, it just requires "$" in front of the digits.

Edited October 17, 2015 by drac030

[Bryan]

Nevermind, I missed what you're asking. You want to convert in BASICs that already support HEX.

[+Larry]

?$ABCD maybe

 

Yes! That works fine! So for example, DNUM=$A9:? DNUM results in 169 being printed.

 

Thanks -- I'll make a note in my BXL manual!

 

-Larry

[kenjennings]

With the "second generation" BASICs (BXL, BXE, TBXL, Altirra Basic, etc.), is it possible to directly convert a HEX number into DEC? All of these BASICs have a HEX$ function, and I thought there was a way to use the VAL function to do the reverse conversion.

 

I use BASIC XL. Internally, every number is stored as a floating point decimal number, so there really is no "hexadecimal" number.

.

A=$FEDC

Ready
?A
65244

Ready
?$BA98
47768

Ready

.

So, there is no need to convert a hexadecimal numeric constant since it is automatically converted to decimal when it is used or assigned to a variable.

 

 

Turning a string representing a hex value into decimal works (in BASIC XL) with VAL(), but it requires a leading dollar sign.

.

?VAL("$01FF")
511

Ready

[+MrFish]

in TBXL there is DEC(), for example A=DEC("ABCD").

 

Be aware that this only functions correctly if your character string data is uppercase. I found this out when attempting to convert a lot of text files that were mostly hex data, where some of the files used all lower-case.

[drac030]

Yes, that is a known TBXL bug, thanks for reminding about it.

[+Larry]

Thanks for the replies! This all started when I wanted a quick way to convert some hex numbers from a screen print. But as usual, I got the info I needed and learned more from our members as a bonus!

P.S. while looking for an quick solution, I found this little Atari BASIC program from Analog. This was the best one I found in my archives, but it doesn't include a decimal to hex routine. This was from Analog #17 from the BASIC Training column. It is set up to loop for repetitive conversion values.

-Larry

HexDec.atr

[+MrFish]

BASIC Turbocharger has routines for both DEC -> HEX and HEX -> DEC. That's where I got the routine I'm using from.

 

[Edit: I should add, that the HEX -> DEC routine here will work with upper-case or lower-case input.]

 

Atarimania - BASIC Turbocharger

Edited October 18, 2015 by MrFish