How to Convert Hex to Binary in Visual Basic

Visual Basic can change from one number base to another with a bit of manipulation in some short lines of code. Numerous lists of numeric conversion tables including all forms---decimal, binary, hex and octal---are available on the Web with a simple search. However, it may be useful to have a converter on your computer. A code process creates a basic hex to binary conversion that executes faster than loading a browser and searching for a table on the Web.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Visual Basic 6.0

1. Open Visual Basic and click on "File" in the Main Menu. Click on "New Project" in the drop-down menu and select "Standard EXE" as a type.

2. Double-click on the "Label" tool (represented by an "A") from the Toolbox on the left. Double-click on the TextBox (represented by the letters "ab"). Click and drag the TextBox so it is next to the Label. Use the "Properties" list to change the caption of the Label to "Enter Hex Number" and delete the letters in the Text caption of the Textbox.

3. Add a command button to the form by double-clicking on the Button tool (a small rectangle) and change the caption of this to read "Convert Hex to Binary." Drag this button below the two items you created in Step 2. Add two more Labels the same way, placing them below the command button and on the same line. Change the caption of the first Label to "The binary equivalent is" and delete the letters in the caption property of the second Label.

4. Click on "View" in the Main Menu and select "Code." In the code window, type the following:
   Private Sub Command1_Click()
   Dim HexNbr As String
   Dim DecNbr As Integer
   Dim Result As String
   DecNbr = Val("&H" & Text1.Text)
   Result = BinaryNbr(DecNbr)
   Do While Len(Result) < 8
   Result = "0" & Result
   Loop
   Label3.Caption = Result
   End Sub

5. Type in the following code below that in Step 4:
   Function FirstConv(ByVal exp As Long) As Long
   Static TempNbr(0 To 31) As Long, n As Integer
   If TempNbr(0) = 0 Then
   TempNbr(0) = 1
   For n = 1 To 30
   TempNbr(n) = TempNbr(n - 1) * 2
   Next
   TempNbr(31) = &H80000000
   End If
   FirstConv = TempNbr(exp)
   End Function

6. Enter these last code lines below the "End Function" in Step 5:
   Function BinaryNbr(ByVal calc As Long) As String
   Dim TempNbr As String, exp As Integer
   TempNbr = String$(32, "0")
   Do
   If calc And FirstConv(exp) Then
   Mid$(TempNbr, 32 - exp, 1) = "1"
   calc = calc Xor FirstConv(exp)
   End If
   exp = exp + 1
   Loop While calc
   BinaryNbr = Mid$(TempNbr, 33 - exp)
   End Function

7. Use the "F5" key to run the application. Enter a number in the blank box next to "Enter a Hex Number" and click on "Convert Hex to Binary." If you entered the code correctly, you will see the result appear in the empty box next to "The Binary equivalent result is." If not, recheck the code.

Tips & Warnings

• If you want to keep this utility permanently, then compile the result by first saving the project and form with an easy to remember name, perhaps "Hex-Binary Converter." Then click on "File" and "Make Hex-Binary Converter.exe."
• While you can change the names of items such as labels or command buttons on the design form properties, you must also change the code to match the new names. Anything else in the coding must remain exact unless you very carefully alter every occurrence of specific changed words.

References

• Programming Visual Basic 6.0; Francesco Balena; 1999 Resources

Resources

• Learn Visual Basic