NAME

base2dec -- Convert number in a base to decimal (base 10)

USAGE

base2dec input base

DESCRIPTION

This script is a number base conversion routine to convert numbers represented in another base to decimal (base 10). The exceptable digits are 0-'9',a-'z', and A-'Z'. Upper and lower case letters are can be mixed.

Digits for values greater than 9 are assigned sequentially to the alphabet. For example, the value 10 is mapped to an a, value 11 is mapped to b, etc.

PARAMETERS

input [string]

String representation of the number to convert.

base [int, minimum=2, maximum=36]

The base represented by the input number.

(output) [int]

This parameter will be set to the decimal value which the input number represents.

(verbose = yes) [bool]

If yes, the result of the conversion is printed to STDOUT.

EXAMPLES

1. Convert the value 11111 in base 2 (binary) to its decimal equivalent.

    cl> base2dec 11111 2
    31
    cl> lpar base2dec
        input = "11111"  Number to convert
        base = 2         Base of the input number
        (output = 31)    Output: Base 10 representation of input
        (verbose = yes)  Print result to standard output?

2. Convert the value 11101111100 in base 2 to its decimal equivalent.

    cl> base2dec 10101111100 2
    2204                        # this is wrong!

    cl> base2dec "10101111100" 2
    1404                        # this is correct

    cl> =10101111100
    1511176508                  # this shows the problem

The problem is that 10101111100 has too many digits (11) for an integer, and the cl interprets numerical values as they are entered. The first argument to base2dec is declared as a string, and it should be quoted when values with many digits are to be entered on the command line; an alternative is to use eparam to enter the value.

3. Convert the value 37 in base 8 (octal) to its decimal equivalent.

    cl> base2dec 37 8
    31

4. Convert the value 1F in base 16 (hexidecimal) to its decimal equivalent.

    cl> base2dec 1F 16
    31

5. Convert the value 31 in base 10 (decimal) to decimal.

    cl> base2dec 31 10
    31

BUGS

This script is dependent on the host operating system character set. The only requirement is that the alphabet be represented sequentially and in increasing number from A/'a' to Z/'z'. ASCII satisfies this requirement. If this requirement is not met, the results will be unpredictable.

Since values greater than 9 are mapped into the alphabet, and there are only 26 letters in the alphabet, only numbers up to base 36 can be supported.

HELP

For assistance using this or any other tasks, please contact help@stsci.edu or call the help desk at 410-338-1082.

SEE ALSO

dec2base, radix