Getting float value from string

I've a string say for example "C2A6AB4B". This is a little endian representation of a float number. How do I get the float out of it using java code?

here is my futile try:

public class Hextofloat implements Serializable
{
private float number =0;
private String hexmsg = null;
private int temp=0;

public float hex2float (String hexMsg){
for(int i=8;i>0;i=i-2){
temp=Integer.parseInt(hexMsg.substring(i-2,i).trim(),16);
number = (number | temp)<<8;
}
return number;
}

}

it gives error message on the line "number =(number | temp)<<8; saying that the "|" is not defined for float, int. I tried (float, float) same thing.

can someone please help with it or give me a function or something that will do the trick?

thanks a lot in advanced.
[ October 06, 2005: Message edited by: Cowboy Drinkalot ]

Since they are whole numbers, how about doint it with longs or ints, and converting only the final answer to float?

Henry

thanks henry.

but how do it do that?

x = (float)y;

would work where x is float and y is long? to exactly copy the bits i was thinking i can only do bit wise or. but i'm not able to do that with float.

Hi,

Welcome to JavaRanch!

First, a bit of business: you may not have read our naming policy on the way in. It requires that you use a full, real (sounding) first and last name for your display name. Joke names, "handles", and obvious fake names don't fly here at the Ranch. You can change your display name
here. We take this rule rather seriously. Thanks!

Look at the Integer.parseInt() method -- the two-argument version.

sorry. changed display name.

can u please explain the solution a bit though. thanks.

Let back this up a bit... What are we talking about here?

Does the string represent a hex number that you want converted a float? Or does the string actually represent the bit pattern for a float? IEEE floating point format?

In both cases, simply do all your math with int only to parse the bits.

If it is the first case, then cast only the final result to float. If it is the second case, then use the Float.intBitsToFloat() method on the final result to get your float.

Henry

P.S. If it is the second case, how the heck did you get the input in the first place?

You can use wrapper class to convert.

Although x = y itself would compile too. You don't need explicit cast for that.

Does the string represent a hex number that you want converted a float?

Yes, in little endian format (the least sig bit first). lets see if I can put togather some pieces here. thanks.