OpenOffice.org BASIC Guide.pdf - OpenOffice.org wiki

Numbers 12
Numbers
OpenOffice.org Basic supports five basic types for processing numbers:
• Integer
• Long Integer
• Single
• Double
• Currency
Integer Variables
Integer variables can store any whole number between -32768 and 32767. An integer
variable can take up to two bytes of memory. The type declaration symbol for an integer
variable is %. Calculations that use integer variables are very fast and are particularly
useful for loop counters. If you assign a floating point number to an integer variable, the
number is rounded up or down to the next whole number.
Example declarations for integer variables:
Dim Variable As Integer
Dim Variable%
Long Integer Variables
Long integer variables can store any whole number between –2147483648 and
2147483647. A long integer variable can takes up to four bytes of memory. The type
declaration symbol for a long integer is &. Calculations with long integer variables are very
fast and are particularly useful for loop counters. If you assign a floating point number to a
long integer variable, the number is rounded up or down to the next whole number.
Example declarations for long integer variables:
Dim Variable as Long
Dim Variable&
Single Variables
Single variables can store any positive or negative floating point number between
3.402823 x 10 38 and 1.401298 x 10 -45 . A single variable can take up to four bytes of
memory. The type declaration symbol for a single variable is !.
Originally, single variables were used to reduce the computing time required for the more
precise double variables. However, these speed considerations no longer apply, reducing
the need for single variables.
Example declarations for single variables:
Dim Variable as Single