OpenOffice.org BASIC Guide - OpenOffice.org wiki

Conversion Functions
calculates the result of the addition process and then converts this into a string, which, as its result, produces the
string 2.
If, on the other hand, the Basic interpreter first converts the start values B and C into a string and applies the plus
operator to the result, it produces the string 11.
The same applies when using variant variables:
Dim A
Dim B
Dim C
B = 1
C = "1"
A = B + C
Since variant variables may contain both numbers and strings, it is unclear whether variable A is assigned the
number 2 or the string 11.
The error sources noted for implicit type conversions can only be avoided by careful programming; for example,
by not using the variant data type.
To avoid other errors resulting from implicit type conversions, OpenOffice.org Basic offers a range of conversion
functions, which you can use to define when the data type of an operation should be converted:
CStr(Var)
CInt(Var)
CLng(Var)
CSng(Var)
CDbl(Var)
converts any data type into a string.
converts any data types into an integer value.
converts any data types into a long value.
converts any data types into a single value.
converts any data types into a double value.
CBool(Var)
converts any data types into a Boolean value.
CDate(Var)
converts any data types into a date value.
You can use these conversion functions to define how OpenOffice.org Basic should perform these type
conversion operations:
Dim A As String
Dim B As Integer
Dim C As Integer
B = 1
C = 1
A = CStr(B + C) ' B and C are added together first, then
' converted to the string "2"
A = CStr(B) + CStr(C) ' B and C are converted into a string,then
' combined to produce the string "11"
During the first addition in the example, OpenOffice.org Basic first adds the integer variables and then converts
the result into a chain of characters. A is assigned the string 2. In the second instance, the integer variables are first
converted into two strings and then linked with one another by means of the assignment. A is therefore assigned
the string 11.
The numerical CSng and CDbl conversion functions also accept decimal numbers. The symbol defined in the
corresponding country-specific settings must be used as the decimal point symbol. Conversely, the CStr methods
use the currently selected country-specific settings when formatting numbers, dates and time details.
36 OpenOffice.org 3.2 BASIC Guide · March 2010