why oh why....STR$?

[banAnnA]

Another stupid quetion from me....
I thought str$ was making numeric values into strings. But why doesn't the programm recognize it as a string??? for example, this does not work (when typing an 1):

input a
b$=str$(a)
if b$="1" then print "it's a one!!!"

[Agamemnus]

for the very obscure reason that adding str$(a) in a print string will not crunch up print "the word is"+str$(a) to "the word is5", Microsoft made str$ add a space to the left after it converted the number to a string.

[banAnnA]

ok.
So the problem is solved when using b$=" 1" ....thanks

[na_th_an]

I'd prefer to trim the space: Use

Code:

number$ = LTRIM$(STR$(number%))

And you'll have "1", "2", "69" ... and such.

[toonski84]

the reason for that is that that space is for negative numbers. if the number's negative, a hyphen will be in place of the space. nathan's trick (though nathan didnt invent it) should alleviate all confusion

[na_th_an]

NO YOU'RE WRONG!! I invented that trick... uh... I promise... :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

[Agamemnus]

then you should have a + for all positives!

But you don't, do you!! :red_marvin:

[Dex4now]

Hi banAnnA, remember also, if you ask for a numeric input, and someone, (or you) enter a letter, you'll get a "redo from start" message.

I always handle this by asking for a string to start with, then test it for the number afterwards. Makes for a little neater input, and allows you to set a default value. For example:

Code:

GetInput:
  INPUT "Enter number: ",a$
  IF a$ = "" THEN a$ = "your default value"
  IF a$ = "e" THEN END
  IF asc(a$) < 48 or ASC(a$) > 57 THEN GOTO GetInput
  a = VAL(a$)
  PRINT a

Of course, you can put in any default value, or select any action if someone enters the wrong thing. Just play around with this.

Dex

[Neo]

Er... how's this then? lol

Code:

FUNCTION readValue%
   k$ = ""
   myval$ = ""
   DO
      k$ = INKEY$
      IF LEN(k$) = 0 THEN k$ = CHR$(1)
      IF ASC(k$) >= 48 AND ASC(k$) <= 57 THEN myval$ = myval$ + k$
   LOOP UNTIL k$ = CHR$(13)
   readValue% = VAL(myval$)
END FUNCTION

Using this function you can read positive numbers from the keyboard.

[Dex4now]

Neo's idea of using a FUNCTION is good, however, it doesn't allow for seeing what you're typeing, which may be important. Here's a slight mod of Neo's code that saves a smidgen of CPU power by not looping when there's no keyboard input:

Code:

FUNCTION readValue
   myval$=""
   DO
      g$ = INPUT$(1)
      IF ASC(g$) > 47 AND ASC(g$) < 58 THEN
         myval$ = myval$ + g$
         LOCATE 4, 4 : PRINT myval$'  The numbers 4,4 can be whatever you want.
      END IF
   LOOP UNTIL g$ = CHR$(13)
   readValue = VAL(myval$)
END FUNCTION

The important thing is, there's a lot of different ways to do this.

Dex