[KKUSA]

I am trying to take an integer value 0-255, and check 8 checkboxes based on the binary representation of the integer.

Firstly, I am generating the integer value based on the checkboxes the user selects with the code below.

    Private Sub chk_AltHold_CheckedChanged(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles chk_AltHold1.CheckedChanged, chk_AltHold2.CheckedChanged, chk_AltHold3.CheckedChanged, chk_AltHold4.CheckedChanged, chk_AltHold5.CheckedChanged, chk_AltHold6.CheckedChanged, chk_AltHold7.CheckedChanged, chk_AltHold8.CheckedChanged
        'Sc 3D Tx Setup
        Dim alt_val As Integer = 0
        Dim alt_valS As String

        If (chk_AltHold1.Checked) Then alt_val = alt_val + 1
        If (chk_AltHold2.Checked) Then alt_val = alt_val + 2
        If (chk_AltHold3.Checked) Then alt_val = alt_val + 4
        If (chk_AltHold4.Checked) Then alt_val = alt_val + 8
        If (chk_AltHold5.Checked) Then alt_val = alt_val + 16
        If (chk_AltHold6.Checked) Then alt_val = alt_val + 32
        If (chk_AltHold7.Checked) Then alt_val = alt_val + 64
        If (chk_AltHold8.Checked) Then alt_val = alt_val + 128

        alt_valS = alt_val.ToString.PadLeft(4, "0"c)
        txt_FnHtLock.Text = alt_valS
    End Sub

This converts the checkboxes checked into an integer 0-255 thats represenatative of an 8 bit binary number.

I need to do it in reverse. Take the integer and convert to binary and check the boxes accordingly.

I have searched endlessly, ad tried several different things in code to achieve this to no avail.

I am used to microcontroller programming in various languages, and the equivalent is easy for that, but in VB.net, I cant figure it out.

Any help is very much appreciated.

[tlhIn`toq]

If your checkboxes were in a List<CheckBox> you could just loop through and check them as you loop through the string representation of of the binary.

Converting an int to a binary string only takes a line:

Dim i As Integer = 181
Dim s As String
s = i.ToString("X")
Console.Writeline(s)

So s is going to contain 10110101

Loop through the string character by character. If it is a one then tick the corresponding checkbox.

First element of the string corresponds to the first element of your List<Checkbox> and so on.

Reversing the binary to int is just as easy

String binaryString = "1001";
int base = 2;
int decimal = Integer.parseInt(binaryString, base);

[KKUSA]

Thanks for the quick reply. However, I have tried to integrate that method into what I have and it does not fit well. I have not been able to find a way to use a Checkbox list in a manner thats suitable for the GUI. If in fact you meant to use a Checkboxlist.

However, your reply has given me an idea to try something else. I dont think it will work, but I will give it a shot.

[KKUSA]

OH, "X" will format as Hex, not binary. That was one of the other issues I was having. I dont see a binary formatter on MSDN

[KKUSA]

Ok, I figured out how to get the binary string

Dim i as integer = 255
Dim s as string
s = Convert.ToString(i, 2)

This returns 11111111 as a string.

Now to get those bits to check the corresponding checkbox!!

[tlhIn`toq]

I meant the exact type I said: List<CheckBox>

Are you familiar with the List<T> class? Its like an advanced Array

YOur string has the same number of elements as your List<> of Checkboxes: 8

So looping through the list would make the the first element of the List<> correspond to the first element of the string.

Give it a try and show use your code effort.

It is 2150hrs - I'm going to give it a go in C# as that's my language and post my time here. After you have shown your effort to use my suggestion, if you need some help I'll show you how I did it. But you have to show your effort first - That's how we do it here.

[KKUSA]

Ok, I have something that works, but not really the way it should be.

        Dim sens_config As Integer = Integer.Parse(txt_SensConfig.Text)
        Dim str As String
        Dim singleChar1 As Char
        Dim int1 As Integer = Nothing

        str = Convert.ToString(sens_config, 2)      'Convert to binary as 10110010 etc.  Works fine!!

        TextBox1.Text = str                         'Display the binary for debugging...OK

        singleChar1 = str.Chars(0)                  'Get the Char at index 0 .....OK

        TextBox2.Text = singleChar1                 'Display the indexed Char for debugging .....OK


        int1 = Convert.ToInt32(singleChar1)         'Convert the Char to an integer so it can be tested...OK

        TextBox3.Text = int1                        'Display converted int1 for debugging.DISPLAYS Char Code 49!!

        If int1 = 49 Then chk_Baro.Checked = True

When I convert the 0 or 1 from the string, it returns the ASCII code for the Char. Which I can use, but I would rather just test if its 1 or 0, but it will not allow me to test the returned string character. It will not work unless I convert to char code.

Any ideas?

[tlhIn`toq]

HINT: A string is a collection that you can iterate through. foreach

There is no need for Convert.

[tlhIn`toq]

So here's what I built:



This is one of the rare times when I kept the designer names of CheckBox1, CheckBox2 ... because in this case they actually made sense.

Here is a hint: The breakdown of the fields, properties and methods used.


Now if you want to look at the C# and use it as base to build your VB.NET just open the spoiler tag below.

Spoiler

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Windows.Forms;

namespace BinaryIntHex
{
    public partial class Form1 : Form
    {
        #region Fields
        private readonly List<CheckBox> myCheckBoxes = new List<CheckBox>();
        private string _binary;
        private bool working;
        #endregion

        #region Properties
        private string Binary
        {
            get { return _binary; }
            set
            {
                if (value == _binary) return;
                _binary = value;
                lblBinary.Text = value;
                working = true;
                for (int position = 0; position < 8; position++)
                {
                    // Works left to right
                    myCheckBoxes[position].Checked = value[position] == '1';
                }
                working = false;
                Recalculate();
            }
        }
        #endregion

        #region Constructors
        public Form1()
        {
            InitializeComponent();
            myCheckBoxes.AddRange(new[]
                                      {
                                          checkBox1, checkBox2, checkBox3, checkBox4, checkBox5, checkBox6, checkBox7,
                                          checkBox8
                                      });
        }
        #endregion

        #region Methods

        private void CheckBox_CheckChanged(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            Recalculate();
        }

        private void Recalculate()
        {
            // 1 is far left, 8 far right to match order of the string
            if (working) return; // so we can calculate in reverse without triggering a screwup
            int temp = 0;
            temp += checkBox1.Checked ? 128 : 0;
            temp += checkBox2.Checked ? 64 : 0;
            temp += checkBox3.Checked ? 32 : 0;
            temp += checkBox4.Checked ? 16 : 0;
            temp += checkBox5.Checked ? 8 : 0;
            temp += checkBox6.Checked ? 4 : 0;
            temp += checkBox7.Checked ? 2 : 0;
            temp += checkBox8.Checked ? 1 : 0;

            Binary = Convert.ToString(temp, 2).PadLeft(8, '0');

            nudInt.Value = temp;
        }

        private void nudInt_ValueChanged(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            Binary = Convert.ToString((int) ((NumericUpDown) sender).Value, 2).PadLeft(8, '0');
        }

        #endregion
    }
}

All of the CheckBoxes are pointed to the one CheckChanged event handler. No need for each to have their own.

The line count jumped from 75 to 80 after cleaning up and putting in the #region markers.

[KKUSA]

Thanks for your help!! The way I have it now works, so I'm going to use it I guess. I know its not the correct way....but it works!!

I know how to iterate through the string, but I do not understand how to test each and check the box accordingly with that method.

I see your code now. Thats pretty much exactly what im looking for. I will have a go at figuring out how to port it to VB.

THANKS!!!!

[tlhIn`toq]

Look at the for loop of lines 25 to 29

We are working our way through the string, from left to right.
If the first element of the string is a '1' then we check the Corresponding CheckBox in our List<>

if position is 4 then its the 5th element (char) of the string and the 5th element of our CheckBox collection.

[KKUSA]

Ok, I have the For Each working as below

  Dim sens_config As Integer = Integer.Parse(txt_SensConfig.Text)
        Dim str As String

        str = Convert.ToString(sens_config, 2)

        For Each digit As Char In str
            Debug.WriteLine(digit)
        Next

This writes the digits properly to the debug window. Now I just need to figure out how to test each one accordingly.

[KKUSA]

Ok, this is what I came up with. It works. The string was reversed, so instead of reversing the string I listed the checkboxes in the array in reverse and it comes out correct.

What do you think about doing it this way

        Dim chk_sensor() As CheckBox = New CheckBox() {chk_Sens8, chk_Sens7, chk_Sens6, chk_Sens5, chk_Sens4, chk_Sens3, chk_Sens2, chk_Sens1}

        Dim sens_config As Integer = Integer.Parse(txt_SensConfig.Text)
        Dim str As String

        str = Convert.ToString(sens_config, 2)

        Dim i As Integer
        For i = 0 To 7
            Dim test1 As Boolean = str.Substring((i), 1).Equals("1")
            If test1 = True Then chk_sensor(i).Checked = True
        Next

[tlhIn`toq]

You've broken down some of the things I had in one line into 2 or 3 but that's fine and makes it easier to read and place breakpoints.

Well done! Its great to see someone work through a scenario and learn from it. So many of our rookies just want us to give them completed code. Keep up the good work ethic!

[KKUSA]

THANKS!! I like to know how to do things, not have someone do them for me, but sometimes I need a nudge in the right direction.

However, I do have one issue occasionally and Im not sure why its behaving this way.

The code below

        Dim i As Integer
        For i = 0 To 7
            Dim test1 As Boolean = str.Substring((i), 1).Equals("1")
            If test1 = True Then chk_sensor(i).Checked = True
        Next

Sometimes its throwing an, ArgumentOutOfRange Exception. Index and length must refer to a location within the string.
Parameter name: length

It obviously means that its trying to use an index value outside of 0-7, but how is that possible? It should always reset to zero each time the For is called, and only count to 7 no matter what shouldnt it? It does not do it all the time. Should I dim the i integer to 0?