how to split Float,Long and Int into set of Bytes

[yogesh_gothe]

hi guys,
I have done this in C With Unions and Structure but how to do this in VIsual Basic.
How To split a 4 byte IEEE format Float number to 4 respective character bytes. e.g. 1234.56 = hex= 0x449A51EB this is a floating no convert this in
ch1 = 0x44h,
ch2 = 0x9Ah
ch3 = 0x51h
ch3 = 0xEBh
Also how to split Long integer which is also 4 bytes

I can do this in C by using union, by declaring inside , a floating point number and then structure of 4 characters.
please help
Yogi

[Sahir]

The shortest and quickest method is to write a C++ dll to do this conversion for you.

[Comintern]

You can do this in VB too. Just build 2 types, one with a set of bytes and one with just the variable type. Then use LSet to convert between them. Since both Singles (IEEE float) and Longs are 4 bytes, you can use the same structure to convert them into:

Private Type LongType
    Value As Long
End Type

Private Type SingleType
    Value As Single
End Type

Private Type FourBytes
    Byte1 As Byte
    Byte2 As Byte
    Byte3 As Byte
    Byte4 As Byte
End Type

Private Sub SplitIEEEFloat()

    Dim uSingle As SingleType, uBytes As FourBytes
    
    uSingle.Value = 1234.56
    LSet uBytes = uSingle
    
    Debug.Print "0x" & Hex(uBytes.Byte1) & "h"
    Debug.Print "0x" & Hex(uBytes.Byte2) & "h"
    Debug.Print "0x" & Hex(uBytes.Byte3) & "h"
    Debug.Print "0x" & Hex(uBytes.Byte4) & "h"
    
End Sub

Private Sub SplitLong()

    Dim uLong As LongType, uBytes As FourBytes
    
    uLong.Value = 123456
    LSet uBytes = uLong
    
    Debug.Print "0x" & Hex(uBytes.Byte1) & "h"
    Debug.Print "0x" & Hex(uBytes.Byte2) & "h"
    Debug.Print "0x" & Hex(uBytes.Byte3) & "h"
    Debug.Print "0x" & Hex(uBytes.Byte4) & "h"

End Sub

[Comintern]

Forgot the Integer

Private Type IntegerType
    Value As Integer
End Type

Private Type TwoBytes
    Byte1 As Byte
    Byte2 As Byte
End Type

Private Sub SplitInteger()

    Dim uInt As IntegerType, uBytes As TwoBytes
    
    uInt.Value = 12345
    LSet uBytes = uInt
    
    Debug.Print "0x" & Hex(uBytes.Byte1) & "h"
    Debug.Print "0x" & Hex(uBytes.Byte2) & "h"
    
End Sub

This link might also come in handy.

[Sahir]

Never thought it could be done in VB. Never heard of LSet before . That was a good one Comintern. Thanks for enlightening me as well

[yogesh_gothe]

hii guys,
thanks for the replies,
but answer to the last reply
yes it can be done, and i foound out,
There is a Sub Procedure in VB called CopyMemory,
Copies a long , or a float or Int into Array of Bytes,
and Vice Versa can also be done
yogi