Implement MKSMBF$, MKDMBF$, CVSMBF, CVDMBF Functions

[boxgaming]

MKSMBF$ and MKDMBF$ convert IEEE-format numbers to Microsoft-Binary-format numeric strings that can be stored in FIELD statement string variables. CVSMBF and CVDMBF convert those strings back to IEEE-format numbers.

MKSMBF$(single-precision-expression!)
MKDMBF$(double-precision-expression#)
CVSMBF (4-byte-numeric-string)
CVDMBF (8-byte-numeric-string)

Function	Returns
MKSMBF$	A 4-byte string containing a Microsoft-Binary-format number
MKDMBF$	An 8-byte string containing a Microsoft-Binary-format number
CVSMBF	A single-precision number in IEEE format
CVDMBF	A double-precision number in IEEE format

These functions are useful for maintaining data files created with older versions of Basic.

Example:

TYPE Buffer
  SngNum AS STRING * 4
  DblNum AS STRING * 8
END TYPE
DIM RecBuffer AS Buffer
OPEN "TESTDAT.DAT" FOR RANDOM AS #1 LEN = 12
SNum = 98.9
DNum = 645.3235622#
RecBuffer.SngNum = MKSMBF$(SNum)
RecBuffer.DblNum = MKDMBF$(DNum)
PUT #1, 1, RecBuffer
GET #1, 1, RecBuffer
CLOSE #1
PRINT CVSMBF(RecBuffer.SngNum), CVDMBF(RecBuffer.DblNum)