Converting instrument string result to float

[OnlyOne]

Hello,

returned string results from an instruments with VISA are always returned with a point.

Depending on the windows installation they must be converted to a value with a comma.

Attachached an snippet of a conversion.

Will this work for all regions? (Using a comma or point)?

What is the meaning of the %Le ?

Thanks

[santo_13 · Accepted solution]

Comma or point makes sense only for string conversion. Numerically across the world, the value does not change. Now, when you convert this number again to a string, at that point you've to tell the string format function to use the local decimal separator.

In the snippet you've shared, it looks for a value with a dot separator and converts it into a number. You can understand what each specifier means by double-clicking on the Scan from String function which displays the window as shown below.

[OnlyOne]

Yes, i want to convert a string to a numeric value.

The string is returned from the instrument and i need it as a numeric value.

Depending on region settings the string 1.23 should be converted to "1,23" or stay on "1.23".

What is the meaning of the "L" in the format specifier?

Thanks

[billko]

A number is a number.  They are represented as bytes in memory and have no format until a human needs to see it.  If you want to display it as something other than what your localization settings tell it to display it as, convert it into a string with that decimal format specifier.

[OnlyOne]

What is the meaning of the "L" in the format specifier?

[billko]

Click on the "Help" button to find out.

[OnlyOne]

Help for "Scan Value, format specifier syntax" was not helpful regarding the "L".

[Frozen]

"%Le" conversion code had me stumped as well... and I have been using LabVIEW for a very long time. LV help provides a lot of different values but "%Le" is not one of them.

I had to resort to googling the meaning, and it turns out that it is just a "Long Double". Some archaic C formatting code.

%Le       long double x  (long double)x  

Found it on this page.

[pincpanter]

I cannot find anything on "L" in the help. Is it for "Long?" Is it a unit? LabVIEW does not complain when it's there, but I could not find an effect despite of many attempts.

[billko]

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@OnlyOne wrote:

Help for "Scan Value, format specifier syntax" was not helpful regarding the "L".

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My apologies, OnlyOne.  I had no idea it wasn't available from the dropdown menu (and therefore, not in the help file).  I did not consider that the format specifier was added manually.