PureBasic Forums - English

Return the first character value of the specified string.

Currently we have the Asc() function to get the character number. In compiler ASCII mode, the result is the ASCII number, in compiler Unicode mode, the result is the UTF8 number.

However, the function name Asc() is very specific, the name suggests ASCII all the way. I would like to see a separate function to output Unicode character numbers, say: UTF8().

Each function to have dedicated type output regardless of compiler mode.

Maybe a solution: But surely as helpful as any other macro-solution.

Greetings
LN

A macro is a good work around. Your macro though ties the compilation to Unicode, which is not wanted. It is possible for an ASCII compiled program to read a Unicode file.

Read the first post! The answer is Asc(), but that function name does not suggest Unicode.

Haha, I thought you said Asc() is not the answer since it is #PB_Compiler_Unicode dependent?
PeekU() works the same in Ascii/Unicode compile.

Asc() already returns the unicode character value (not UTF8, as PB doesn't handle UTF8 in native) in unicode. I don't really undestand the question as well

Well:

the function name Asc() is very specific, the name suggests ASCII all the way.

When you have that function in your code, you don't immediately know if it is returning an ASCII number or a Unicode number........

True. Anyway the function was here to return the first character value, so when we introduced unicode support, it was more or less obvious it would return the first unicode character value, despite of the name.

Maybe Fred should just rename the command to something non-offensive

> I would like to see a separate function to output Unicode character numbers

So, should every string command have two versions now? One for Ascii and
one for Unicode return values? I don't think that's a good idea to implement.
Perhaps an optional flag can be added for existing commands, but keep them
defaulting to Ascii if the flag is omitted. I don't know. Where is the line drawn?

Where is the line drawn?

Ah, underlining text, that's another subject

I second PBs point.
Let's have one ASC() function that provides the correct result in each mode, ASCII or UTF().
The compiler shall take care of this.
ASC() is definitely BASIC standard function, thus widely understandable.

thus widely understandable

...which is my point. The result could easily be assumed to be ASCII when its Unicode.

IdeasVacuum wrote:The result could easily be assumed to be ASCII when its Unicode.

The behavior of Asc() is documented. The name of the function comes from a time
when there was no Unicode (also in PB). VB.NET has functions Asc() and AscW(), in PB it is Asc() for both modes.

If I understand correctly, you just would like a name change, like: