# Convert numbers to "non-ascii" strings **URL:** \ **Category:** ruby-talk\ **Created:** [27 February 2008 06:19 UTC](https://rubytalk.org/t/convert-numbers-to-non-ascii-strings/44797 "2008-02-27T06:19:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Consultant1guru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/439d5e/32.png) [@Consultant1guru](https://rubytalk.org/u/Consultant1guru)\ **Post date:** [27 February 2008 06:19 UTC](https://rubytalk.org/t/convert-numbers-to-non-ascii-strings/44797/1 "2008-02-27T06:19:58Z")
Dave -- I'm afraid that you may have selected the incorrect language for the task at hand. Your question implies that you are doing some complex parsing or homogenization, and Ruby, while a nice scripting language for small tasks, is simply not a good choice for that application. If you want to do simple web development or a little scraping, Ruby is good for that, but that's about the extent of what it can really handle well. I suggest you look at Perl or TCL for a serious scripting language, Java for a robust programming language, and Visual Basic if you want an ultra-fast development environment. These are tools that can handle the task you describe in a sensible way. I am not saying that you should give up Ruby. Ruby is great for learning some of the object-oriented concepts that while interesting, may not be practical for some tasks in the real world. Hope that helps Cheers G > **···** > > On Feb 26, 8:46 am, Dave M \ wrote: > > > Hello all > > > > I would like to convert integers to strings in a way that I haven't come > > across in the Ruby functions I have looked at. I would like the string > > to be exactly what the integer would be if I read it in from a binary file. > > > > In other words, the integer 0x61626364 would be the string "abcd" after > > the conversion. I can write code to do it, but I think there is > > probably a better way than the approach I have come up with. > > > > This works but seems very brute force to me: > > > > # assumes 32 bit numbers. > > class Bignum > >      def to\_ls > >          i = self > >          s = "" > >          4.times { s.concat(i & 0xff); i \>\>= 8} > >          return s.reverse > >      end > > end > > > > puts 0x61626364.to\_ls > > abcd > > > > Also, it seems that I need this for both Bignum and Fixnum to cover the > > entire 32 bit number range. > > > > Thanks > > > > Dave M ---
**Author:** ![Clifford\_Heath5](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ab992/32.png) [@Clifford\_Heath5](https://rubytalk.org/u/Clifford_Heath5)\ **Post date:** [27 February 2008 06:34 UTC](https://rubytalk.org/t/convert-numbers-to-non-ascii-strings/44797/2 "2008-02-27T06:34:55Z")
Consultant1guru@hotmail.com wrote: > I'm afraid that you may have selected the incorrect language for the > task at hand. Your question implies that you are doing some complex > parsing or ... Nothing whatever complex about it, quite simple in Ruby: class Numeric   def to\_ls     [self].pack("N")   end end Works for BigNum and FixNum, no need to modify those classes. Clifford Heath. ---
**Author:** ![Joel\_VanderWerf1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/94ad74/32.png) [@Joel\_VanderWerf1](https://rubytalk.org/u/Joel_VanderWerf1)\ **Post date:** [27 February 2008 06:39 UTC](https://rubytalk.org/t/convert-numbers-to-non-ascii-strings/44797/3 "2008-02-27T06:39:46Z")
Consultant1guru@hotmail.com wrote: > **···** > > > On Feb 26, 8:46 am, Dave M \ wrote: > > > > > Hello all > > > > > > I would like to convert integers to strings in a way that I haven't come > > > across in the Ruby functions I have looked at. I would like the string > > > to be exactly what the integer would be if I read it in from a binary file. > > > > > > In other words, the integer 0x61626364 would be the string "abcd" after > > > the conversion. I can write code to do it, but I think there is > > > probably a better way than the approach I have come up with. > > > > > > This works but seems very brute force to me: > > > > > > # assumes 32 bit numbers. > > > class Bignum > > >      def to\_ls > > >          i = self > > >          s = "" > > >          4.times { s.concat(i & 0xff); i \>\>= 8} > > >          return s.reverse > > >      end > > > end > > > > > > puts 0x61626364.to\_ls > > > abcd > > > > > > Also, it seems that I need this for both Bignum and Fixnum to cover the > > > entire 32 bit number range. > > > > > > Thanks > > > > > > Dave M > > > > Dave -- > > > > I'm afraid that you may have selected the incorrect language for the > > task at hand. Your question implies that you are doing some complex > > parsing or homogenization, and Ruby, while a nice scripting language > > for small tasks, is simply not a good choice for that application. If > > you want to do simple web development or a little scraping, Ruby is > > good for that, but that's about the extent of what it can really > > handle well. > > > > I suggest you look at Perl or TCL for a serious scripting language, > > Java for a robust programming language, and Visual Basic if you want > > an ultra-fast development environment. These are tools that can > > handle the task you describe in a sensible way. > > > > I am not saying that you should give up Ruby. Ruby is great for > > learning some of the object-oriented concepts that while interesting, > > may not be practical for some tasks in the real world. > > > > Hope that helps > > > > Cheers > > > > G > > Please reconsider your assessment of ruby, G. > > [0x61626364].pack("N") > > This returns the string "abcd" and does so elegantly and efficiently. > > In my experience and that of many others on this mailing list, ruby can be used for a variety of complex tasks, and not just web apps. Also, like perl, it makes simple tasks simple. > > -- >        vjoel : Joel VanderWerf : path berkeley edu : 510 665 3407