reinterpret cast

Hi,
Since I need to send a long variable through a network. I need to convert it to a char * first. I tried to use reinterpret_cast without success.

Code:

---

long numBytes = 0;
char *test;
char sendData = 0x00;

numBytes = ftell( stream );
test = reinterpret_cast<char *>(&numBytes);
sendData = test[0];

---

I am using visual studio and this is what the debugger shows me:
numBytes 0x000058d7 long
&numBytes 0x0107fcb4 long *
test[0] 0xd7 '×' char
test[1] 0x58 'X' char
test 0x0107fcb4 "×X" char *

It seems test has the correct pointer but then I want to retrieve 58 and d7 from the original long variable but instead test[0] and test[1] gives me Xs. Can someone explain what I am doing wrong. Thanks a lot
Amish

Hi '284 !

You ask what you're doing wrong .... beats me. Your code works for me. I copied it to VS2003 Managed C++.

I did a cut and paste with the following exceptions:

1) I changed the initial value of numBytes to 81203 (decimal)
2) I commented out the "numBytes = ftell( stream )" statement

I executed the code and at the end of the function, 'SendData' contained a decimal 51 (0x33). The hex value of NumBytes (81203.) is 0x13D33, so it looks to me like it worked.

Just this moment changed the "Test[0]" to "Test[1]" and 'SendData' now contains a decimal 61 (0x3D) which would be the next byte in the 'array'.

It kinda looks like it's workin'

bill

Ok i am offially brain dead :) Thanks for noticing that though. You're right, I was looking at it wrong. I guess I got wrapped up into which is a pointer and which is actual data in the debugger window. Thanks a lot. You saved me hours of googling.
Amish