Binary input

[pavelpivo]

Hi,
is there any possibility to input in code a binary number.
Something like
Dim i as Int
.
.
.
i=0b110011

As far as I found, hex can be entered by prefix 0x, but 0b doesn't work.

Why I need this? I need to use some value as status flag and entering this in hex or decimal may reproduce a typing error.
Thank you for reply.

 

[stevel05]

I just stumbled across this post which I think answers your question.

 

[pavelpivo]

Thank you, that confirms my thoughts.

 

[pavelpivo]

Just for case, that anybody will need this feature in future:
The flag bit can be easily set by:

i=Bit.Or(i,Power(2,a))

where i is status word and a is bit, which has to be set
Note that 0 is first bit, 1 is second bit etc.

Bit can be cleared by:

i=Bit.And(i,Power(2,b)-1-Power(2,a))

for b bit long status word.
Note that b can be higher than length of word, but if it is lower, then all higher bits will be cleared.

Bit can be read by:

flagbit=Bit.And(i,Power(2,a))

This will return 2^a if bit is set. If this is not acceptable add following if

If flagbit>0 Then flagbit=1

so the code will look

flagbit=Bit.And(i,Power(2,a))
If flagbit>0 Then flagbit=1

 

[Erel]

It is a bit more elegant to use:

Bit.ShiftLeft(1, a)

instead of:

Power(2, a)

 

[pavelpivo]

Thank you for your input Erel.
I have another question. I know that power takes a lot of CPU cycles to calculate. As I want to use this set/clear instructions in cycle that repeats more than 100.000x I am looking for something really fast. What do you think, what is faster? Bit.ShiftLeft or once create an array of integers (element(a)=Power(2, a)) and then instead of Power(2, a) use element(a) in cycles?

 

[Erel]

Bit.ShiftLeft is extremely fast. You will not need to further optimize it.