3159mLT - Math::BaseCnv.pm created by Pip@CPAN.org to convert between arbitrary number bases... I'm totally addicted to bass =). NAME Math::BaseCnv - fast functions to convert between number bases VERSION This documention refers to version 1.0.3CD1Vdd of Math::BaseCnv, which was released on Sat Dec 13 01:31:39:39 2003. SYNOPSIS use Math::BaseCnv; # Convert 55 from base-10 (decimal) to base-2 (binary) $binary_55 = cnv( 55, 10, 2 ); DESCRIPTION BaseCnv provides a few simple functions for converting between arbitrary number bases. It is as fast as I currently know how to make it (of course relying only on the lovely perl). If you would rather utilize an object syntax for number-bass conversion, please see Ken Williams's fine Math::BaseCalc module. 2DO better error checking handle fractional parts? umm but I like using '.' as a b64 char =( What else does BaseCnv need? WHY? The reason I created BaseCnv was that I needed a simple way to convert quickly between the 3 number bases I use most (10, 16, && 64). It turned out that it was trivial to handle any number bass that could be represented as characters. High-bit ASCII proved somewhat problemmatic but at least BaseCnv can convert between any possible bass between 2 && 128 which is more than I originally needed. I'm quite happy with it && employ b64() too much now =). USAGE cnv($numb[,$from[,$tobs]]) - Convert the number contained in $numb from its current number bass ($from) into the result number bass ($tobs). If only $numb is provided, it will be converted to hexadecimal (bass 16) if it only contains valid decimal digits or it will be converted to decimal (bass 10) if it contains hexadecimal digits or begins with '0x'. If only $numb && $from are provided as parameters, cnv assumes that $numb is already in decimal format && uses $from as the $tobs. The normal (&& most clear) usage is to provide all 3 parameters. cnv() is the only function that is exported from a normal 'use Math::BaseCnv;' command. Other functions can be imported to local namespaces explicitly or with the following tags: :all - every function described here :hex - only dec() && hex() :b64 - only b10() && b64() && cnv() :dig - only dig() && diginit() b10($b64n) - A shortcut to convert the number given as a parameter ($b64n) from bass 64 to decimal (bass 10). b64($b10n) - A shortcut to convert the number given as a parameter ($b10n) from decimal (bass 10) to bass 64. dec($b16n) - A shortcut to convert the number given as a parameter ($b16n) from hexadecimal (bass 16) to decimal (bass 10). hex($b10n) - A shortcut to convert the number given as a parameter ($b10n) from decimal (bass 10) to hexadecimal (bass 16). dig(\@newd) - Assign the new digit character list to be used in place of the default one. dig() can also alternately accept a string name matching one of the following predefined digit sets: 'bin' => ['0', '1'] 'oct' => ['0'..'7'] 'dec' => ['0'..'9'] 'hex' => ['0'..'9', 'a'..'f'] 'HEX' => ['0'..'9', 'A'..'F'] 'b62' => ['0'..'9', 'a'..'z', 'A'..'Z'] '64' => ['A'..'Z', 'a'..'z', '0'..'9', '+', '/'] # MIME::Base64 'b64' => ['0'..'9', 'A'..'Z', 'a'..'z', '.', '_'] '128' => ['0'..'9', 'A'..'Z', 'a'..'z', '.', '_'... higher chars If no \@newd list or digit set name is provided as a parameter, dig() returns the current character list. It's fine to have many more characters in your current digit set than will be used with your conversions (eg. using dig('128') works fine for any cnv() call with $from && $tobs params less than or equal to 128). An example of a \@newd parameter for a specified alternate digit set for noval (bass 9) conversions is: dig( [ qw( n a c h o z y u m ) ] ); diginit() - Resets the used digit list to the initial default order of the predefined digit set: '128'. NOTES The perl builtin hex() function takes a hex string as a parameter && returns the decimal value (FromBass = 16, ToBass = 10) but this notation seems counter-intuitive to me since the code implies that a hex() function will turn your parameter into hexadecimal (ie. It sounds like hex will hexify your parameter but it does not.) so I've decided (maybe foolishly) to invert the notation for my similar functions since it makes more sense to me this way && will be easier to remember (I've had to lookup hex() in the Camel book many times already which was part of the impetus for this module... as well as the gut reaction that sprintf() is not a proper natural inverse function for hex()). This means that my b64() function takes a decimal number as a parameter && returns the bass64 equivalent (FromBass = 10, ToBass = 64) && my b10() function takes a bass64 number (string) && returns the decimal value (FromBass = 64, ToBass = 10). My hex() function overloads perl's builtin version with this opposite behavior so my dec() function behaves like perl's normal hex() function. I know it's confusing && maybe bad form of me to do this but I like it so much better this way that I'd rather go against the grain. Please think of my dec() && hex() functions as meaning decify && hexify. Also the pronunciation of dec() is 'dess' (!'deck' as in the inverse of 'ink' which -- && ++ have so improved upon). After reading the informative perl module etiquette guidelines, I now appreciate the need to export as little as is necessary by default. So to be responsible, I have limited BaseCnv exporting to only cnv() under normal circumstances. Please specify the other functions you'd like to import into your namespace or use the tags described above in the cnv() section like: 'use Math::BaseCnv qw(:all !:hex);' Error checking is not thorough yet. This module does not handle fractional number inputs because I like using the dot (.) character as a standard bass64 digit since it makes for clean filenames. I hope you find Math::BaseCnv useful. Please feel free to e-mail me any suggestions || coding tips || notes of appreciation ("app-ree-see-ay-shun"). Thank you. TTFN. CHANGES Revision history for Perl extension Math::BaseCnv: - 1.0.3CD1Vdd Sat Dec 13 01:31:39:39 2003 * updated all POD indenting, changed synopsis example, && added ABSTRACT section to WriteMakeFile() - 1.0.3CCA5Mi Fri Dec 12 10:05:22:44 2003 * removed indenting from POD NAME field - 1.0.3CB7M43 Thu Dec 11 07:22:04:03 2003 * updated package to coincide with Time::Fields release - 1.0.39B36Lv Thu Sep 11 03:06:21:57 2003 * fixed boundary bugs, templatized package compilation, && synchronized POD with README documentation using new e utility - 1.0.37SLNGN Mon Jul 28 21:23:16:23 2003 * first version (&& my first perl module... yay!) put on CPAN - 1.0.37JKj3w Sat Jul 19 20:45:03:58 2003 * reworked interface from shell utility to package - 1.0.3159mLT Sun Jan 5 09:48:21:29 2003 * original version INSTALL Please run: `perl -MCPAN -e "install Math::BaseCnv"` or uncompress the package && run the standard: `perl Makefile.PL; make; make test; make install` LICENSE Most source code should be Free! Code I have lawful authority over is && shall be! Copyright: (c) 2003, Pip Stuart. All rights reserved. Copyleft : I license this software under the GNU General Public License (version 2). Please consult the Free Software Foundation (http://www.fsf.org) for important information about your freedom. AUTHOR Pip Stuart