Binary to String?

General
1

Hello all,

I have the following code that is extracting a NodeID from an inbound packet.

RemotePeerNodeID = InputQueue(i).MidB(5,2)

I am just trying to convert “RemotePeerNodeID” into either a String or Integer and I am failing. I tried a memory block but something isn’t right as I never get a string converted value. I either can get nothing or get the same binary represented in hex and not a string.

This is my latest failed attempt:

    Dim RemotePeerNodeIDMB As New MemoryBlock(2)
    RemotePeerNodeIDMB.LittleEndian = False
    RemotePeerNodeIDMB = RemotePeerNodeID
    Dim RemotePeerIDString As String = RemotePeerNodeIDMB.StringValue(0,2)

I just get the same Binary value in hex format when I look at the RemotePeerNodeID in thn IDE under Binary. I also tried DecodeHex against that string with no luck. I am missing something :slight_smile:

2

Try this…

  ' ----- test code start -----
  Dim RemotePeerNodeID As String = "a1"
  '  ----- test code end  -----
  
  Dim RemotePeerNodeIDMB As MemoryBlock
  RemotePeerNodeIDMB = DecodeHex(RemotePeerNodeID)
  RemotePeerNodeIDMB.LittleEndian = False
  
  Dim RemotePeerIDInt As Integer = RemotePeerNodeIDMB.UInt8Value(0)

I think you might have to DecodeHex the value before you store it in the MemoryBlock.

3

…or

Dim RemotePeerIDString As String = Str(RemotePeerNodeIDMB.UInt8Value(0))

if you want it as a string value.

4

Actually, you don’t need a MemoryBlock… the following gives the same result:

  ' ----- test code start -----
  Dim RemotePeerNodeID As String = "a1"
  '  ----- test code end  -----
  
  Dim RemotePeerIDInt As Integer = AscB(DecodeHex(RemotePeerNodeID))
5

Can you give us an example of the raw values vs what you want it to look like after the “conversion”?

6

I receive a 2 byte binary message of 0x09C4 for example and I want to turn it into preferably String(2500) for example. Thanks guys for the help!

7

you get two bytes (09 C4) ?
or a string (“09C4”) - which is more like 4 bytes

ANd IF all the data is relatively fixed frames for headers etc you could shove the header data into a structure then just read it from the structure instead of messing around with MidB all the time

8

OK, hex 09C4 is 2500 decimal. So you just want the Int16 value of those 2 bytes? I second Norman’s suggestion of using a Structure, but you can do it with a MemoryBlock as well:

dim mb as MemoryBlock
mb = InputQueue(i).MidB(5,2)
RemotePeerNodeID = mb.Int16Value(0)
9

Ha :slight_smile: Sorry 4 bytes :slight_smile: Thanks guys Ill revisit this again with your help. Thanks!

10

Just so you can understand the under workings, your code:

    Dim RemotePeerNodeIDMB As New MemoryBlock(2)
    RemotePeerNodeIDMB.LittleEndian = False
    RemotePeerNodeIDMB = RemotePeerNodeID
    Dim RemotePeerIDString As String = RemotePeerNodeIDMB.StringValue(0,2)

is exactly the same in effect as:

    Dim RemotePeerIDString As String = RemovePeerNodeID.DefineEncoding( nil )

What’s more, if you create a new MemoryBlock, then assign a string to it directly, you’ve gotten rid of the original one you created. So, for example:

dim mb as new MemoryBlock( 1 )
mb = "A string much longer than 1 byte"
// The original, 1-byte MemoryBlock was created with "New MemoryBlock( 1 )",
// then discarded in favor of a new one that was created by
// the assignment of the string.
11

[quote=61713:@Norman Palardy]you get two bytes (09 C4) ?
or a string (“09C4”) - which is more like 4 bytes

ANd IF all the data is relatively fixed frames for headers etc you could shove the header data into a structure then just read it from the structure instead of messing around with MidB all the time[/quote]
Sorry Norman I read your post wrong above… I am receiving 2 bytes 09 C4… I was just turning them into a string after I received the packets. I am using Structures on the frame creation outbound, but not on the inbound (my error). All I had been doing was just matching the binary hex and then responding without needing to convert the binary hex. However now I do and you guys pointed out what I was doing wrong :slight_smile: Thank you again!

12

Phew thanks again guys for all of the help. Here is my final snippet.

    // Convert SenderNodeID to a String from Hex notation
    Dim RemotePeerNodeIDMB As New MemoryBlock(2)
    RemotePeerNodeIDMB = InputQueue(i).MidB(5,2)
    RemotePeerNodeIDMB.LittleEndian = False
    Dim RemotePeerIDString as UInt16= RemotePeerNodeIDMB.UInt16Value(0)
13

Again, take out New. You’re creating an initial 2 byte MemoryBlock for no reason.

14

Change this line

Dim RemotePeerNodeIDMB As New MemoryBlock(2)

to

Dim RemotePeerNodeIDMB As MemoryBlock

There’s no point creating a memoryblock, just to throw it away, which is what this line does.

RemotePeerNodeIDMB = InputQueue(i).MidB(5,2)

It disposes of the object, if any, pointed to by RemotePeerNodeIDMB, and creates a new one, thanks to the automatic string to memoryblock conversion.

15

Ah thanks :slight_smile: Sorry I missed that after you explained it :slight_smile: Thanks!