How to convert any passed variable into a string

[oracle]

I need a function to convert any passed variable into a string, even if it is a string. It's for StatLib, so helpers go in the credits if you want (like that's any incentive :wink: ). So far I've tried writing the variable to a file and getting it back as a string, but that doesn't work. Any help?

[RST]

Just write the variable to a file, and then read as a string.

Code:

x = 512
s$ = "String"
open "test" for output as #1
print #1, x
print #1, s$
close

open "test" for input as #1
input #1, a$
input #1, b$
close

print a$, b$

Both variables are now strings. Or you could just use STR$() and check for errors.

[Agamemnus]

:|

[toonski84]

I'll just post this before someone yells "rtfm". Like RST said: http://qbasicnews.com/qboho/qckstr$.shtml

or the alternative

Code:

x = 410
do until x = 0
  n$ = chr$(48 + (x mod 10)) + n$
  x = x \ 10
loop
print n$

but str$'s easier. Also, if you use it on a postive number it puts a blank space in the beginning, so remember to use ltrim$(str$(num))

[oracle]

I know about the STR$() function, it's imperative to StatLib, where all calculations are based on strings.

I already have a program like what Mr RST made. It's just that I needed a function that could accept any type of variable, regardless of being a number or string, and convert it to a string. I now realise I can check to see if it is a string with error handling, but that doesn't solve the problem of numbers being converted to single precision when the function is called:

Code:

FUNCTION convert$(lala)
open file...
put variable...
reopen: get variable...
END FUNCTION

To put it really basically (and to save some hassle): Is there a way to determine the type of a variable using QBasic commands?

[Glenn]

to be able to pass a variable to a function and not have the function care what type of variable it is in the first place. I don't think *that's* possible. You might be able to get around that by passing a user-defined variable. However, that would require user-defined variables to allow their type to be changed dynamically, depending on what you wanted your function to operate on. I don't think *that* is possible either. However, you could have a user-defined type with elements in it for all of QB's intrinsic types and pass the user-defined variable to the function along with a flag so the function knows which element to operate on.

[oracle]

Hummmm... I'll see about it when I've finished my bio assignment in *gulp* windows...

[Phydaux]

I suppose you could just create multiple functions. One for each data type you need to convert. maybe? :normal:

(Without meaning to sound like an anus) you could always adapt your program to anticipate what data type needs to be converted into a string. e.g. what the result of a calculation, or user input will be.

[Antoni Gual]

From last version of my jpeg viewer...

Code:

'An useful trick from Ethan Winer's book, to use PRINT USING to format a string
frmt$=" /           /     #####   ####    ####   ###"
jfit$="hello"
md&=&hffff
display.yres=640
display.xres=800
display.bpp$=chr$(16)
    'dummy file must be opened and closed for each new string or the trick won't work
    NUL = FREEFILE: OPEN "\DEV\NUL" FOR RANDOM AS #NUL LEN = 255
    PRINT #NUL, USING frmt$; jfit$; HEX$(md&); display.xres; display.yres; ASC(display.bpp$)
    LINE INPUT #NUL, B$
    print  B$
    CLOSE NUL

[speedlemon]

do you know that for sure because it is wrong.