FAQ#1: Using Great Cow Basic Variables

[Anobium]

In Great Cow Basic you have byte variables, word variables, long variables and integer variables. See http://gcbasic.sourceforge.net/help/_setting_variables.html for the help file.

Accessing bytes within words and longs etc may be required when you are creating your solution. This can be done with some ease.

You can access the bytes within word and longs variables using the following as a guide:

 Dim workvariable as long
    workvariable = 21845
    Dim lowb as byte
    Dim highb as byte
    Dim upperb as byte
    Dim lastb as byte


    lowb      = workvariable
    highb     = workvariable_H
    upperb    = workvariable_U
    lastb     = workvariable_E

Just to confirm, where

    Dim rB as Byte
    Dim sW as Word
    Dim sW as Word

To extract the bytes from a WORD of 16 bits

    ‘ For bits 7-0 [lower byte]
    rB = sW

    ‘ For bits 15-8 [upper byte]
    rB = sW_H

To extract the bytes from a LONG of 32 bits, where

    Dim rB as Byte
    Dim sW as Word
    Dim tL as Long

    ‘ For bits 7-0 [lowest byte #0]
    rB = tL

    ‘ For bits 15-8 [lower middle byte #1]
    rB = tL_H

    ‘ For bits 23-16 [upper middle byte #2]
    rB = tL_U

    ‘ For bits 31-24 [highest byte #3]
    rB = tL_E
~~~~

To extract nibbles from variables  

lower_nibble = rB & 0x0F 
upper_nibble = (rB & 0xF0) / 16

~~~~~

This FAQ was first created by Perry (OFUZZY1), Thank You!!

[Paul Haug]

Thanks Anobium , good info. I have printed and put in my notes of GCB.
Paul