Sorry for asking this one again, but with the newsgroup now holding things
for an ever shorter time, I can't find my original question (and the
answers) from a few months ago.
I know that structures in VB.NET don't have bit fields, but I am looking for
a convenient way to reproduce the convenience afforded in C/C++.
If I have
typedef struct _MyStruct {
DWORD First
DWORD Second : 1
DWORD Third : 1
DWORD Fourth : 2
...
} MyStruct;
I would be forced to translate this into
Public Structure MyStruct
Dim First As Integer
Dim Flags As Integer
...
End Structure
and decode the values of Flags.
Does anyone have any suggestions for an elegant way to deal with this
scenario, ideally getting the benefit of intellisense, so that I can say
Flags = ValueOfThird
resulting in just bit 1 of the Flags element becoming set? Perhaps using an
enum with the FlagsAttribute?
Thanks.
Charles
9  6057 
Create properties First, Second, etc. In the get and put do whatever
processing has to be done to extract the bit and set / clear the bit.
Lloyd Sheen
"Charles Law" <bl***@nowhere.com> wrote in message
news:ep**************@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl... Sorry for asking this one again, but with the newsgroup now holding things
for an ever shorter time, I can't find my original question (and the
answers) from a few months ago.
I know that structures in VB.NET don't have bit fields, but I am looking
for a convenient way to reproduce the convenience afforded in C/C++.
If I have
typedef struct _MyStruct {
DWORD First
DWORD Second : 1
DWORD Third : 1
DWORD Fourth : 2
...
} MyStruct;
I would be forced to translate this into
Public Structure MyStruct
Dim First As Integer
Dim Flags As Integer
...
End Structure
and decode the values of Flags.
Does anyone have any suggestions for an elegant way to deal with this
scenario, ideally getting the benefit of intellisense, so that I can say
Flags = ValueOfThird
resulting in just bit 1 of the Flags element becoming set? Perhaps using
an enum with the FlagsAttribute?
Thanks.
Charles
Charles,
In addition to the other's comments. I have used the
System.Collections.Specialized.BitVector32 to represent the bit fields with
some success.
Here is something I wrote about it a few months ago:
When I implemented the DCB structure in VB.NET I defined Flags as a Private
BitVector32. Then used Property procedures that extracted the individual
values, using the methods of BitVector32.
Public enum RtsControl As Byte
Disable = 0
Enable = 1
Handshake = 2
Toggle = 3
End Enum
Public Structure DBC
...
Private Flags As BitVector32
...
Private Shared Readonly m_fBinary As Integer
Private Shared Readonly m_Parity As Integer
...
Private Shared Readonly m_fRtsControl As BitVector32.Section
...
Shared Sub New()
' create boolean masks
m_fBinary = BitVector32.CreateMask()
...
m_fParity = BitVector32.CreateMask(m_fBinary)
...
' create section masks
Dim previousSection As BitVector32.Section
previousSection = BitVector32.CreateSection(1)
...
m_fRtsControl = BitVector32.CreateSection(3,
previousSection)
...
End Sub
Public Property Binary As Boolean
Get
Return Flags.Item(m_fBinary)
End Get
Set(ByVal value As Boolean)
Flags.Item(m_fBinary) = value
End Set
End Property
...
Public Property RtsControl As RtsControl
Get
Return CType(Flags.Item(m_fRtsControl), RtsControl)
End Get
Set(ByVal value As RtsControl)
Flags.Item(m_fRtsControl) = value
End Set
End Property
...
End Structure
BitVector32 is marshaled as an Integer (DWORD) so you can use them
interchangeably.
I made Flags Private as its an implementation detail.
The property procedures expose the flags as the respective types, For
example RtsControl & DtrControl as enums with valid values, others as
Boolean. I had to change a couple names as there is a field & a flag
(ErrorChar).
For the BitVector32 masks I had to make two passes, once for the boolean
values, then a second one for the section (enum) values.
Using the BitVector32 class simplified my property procedures at the
"expense" of a little extra setup (the shared constructor).
I have not posted my class on got dot net yet, as I am still working on
making the WaitEvent async.
Hope this helps
Jay
"Charles Law" <bl***@nowhere.com> wrote in message
news:ep**************@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl... Sorry for asking this one again, but with the newsgroup now holding things
for an ever shorter time, I can't find my original question (and the
answers) from a few months ago.
I know that structures in VB.NET don't have bit fields, but I am looking
for a convenient way to reproduce the convenience afforded in C/C++.
If I have
typedef struct _MyStruct {
DWORD First
DWORD Second : 1
DWORD Third : 1
DWORD Fourth : 2
...
} MyStruct;
I would be forced to translate this into
Public Structure MyStruct
Dim First As Integer
Dim Flags As Integer
...
End Structure
and decode the values of Flags.
Does anyone have any suggestions for an elegant way to deal with this
scenario, ideally getting the benefit of intellisense, so that I can say
Flags = ValueOfThird
resulting in just bit 1 of the Flags element becoming set? Perhaps using
an enum with the FlagsAttribute?
Thanks.
Charles
On 2004-01-30, Jay B. Harlow [MVP - Outlook] <Ja************@msn.com> wrote: Charles,
In addition to the other's comments. I have used the
System.Collections.Specialized.BitVector32 to represent the bit fields with
some success.
Jay,
That is pretty slick... I'm going to have to remember that one :)
--
Tom Shelton [MVP]
Powered By Gentoo Linux 1.4
The more you complain, the longer God lets you live.
Jay
That's exactly the kind of thing I was hoping for. Thanks. And thanks also
to Lloyd for a similar suggestion.
I think you alluded to this last time I asked the question, and it so
happens that it is the DCB I am doing this for.
I have now printed it out for reference.
Cheers
Charles
"Jay B. Harlow [MVP - Outlook]" <Ja************@msn.com> wrote in message
news:eg**************@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl... Charles,
In addition to the other's comments. I have used the
System.Collections.Specialized.BitVector32 to represent the bit fields
with some success.
Here is something I wrote about it a few months ago:
When I implemented the DCB structure in VB.NET I defined Flags as a
Private BitVector32. Then used Property procedures that extracted the individual
values, using the methods of BitVector32.
Public enum RtsControl As Byte
Disable = 0
Enable = 1
Handshake = 2
Toggle = 3
End Enum
Public Structure DBC
...
Private Flags As BitVector32
...
Private Shared Readonly m_fBinary As Integer
Private Shared Readonly m_Parity As Integer
...
Private Shared Readonly m_fRtsControl As BitVector32.Section
...
Shared Sub New()
' create boolean masks
m_fBinary = BitVector32.CreateMask()
...
m_fParity = BitVector32.CreateMask(m_fBinary)
...
' create section masks
Dim previousSection As BitVector32.Section
previousSection = BitVector32.CreateSection(1)
...
m_fRtsControl = BitVector32.CreateSection(3,
previousSection)
...
End Sub
Public Property Binary As Boolean
Get
Return Flags.Item(m_fBinary)
End Get
Set(ByVal value As Boolean)
Flags.Item(m_fBinary) = value
End Set
End Property
...
Public Property RtsControl As RtsControl
Get
Return CType(Flags.Item(m_fRtsControl), RtsControl)
End Get
Set(ByVal value As RtsControl)
Flags.Item(m_fRtsControl) = value
End Set
End Property
...
End Structure
BitVector32 is marshaled as an Integer (DWORD) so you can use them
interchangeably.
I made Flags Private as its an implementation detail.
The property procedures expose the flags as the respective types, For
example RtsControl & DtrControl as enums with valid values, others as
Boolean. I had to change a couple names as there is a field & a flag
(ErrorChar).
For the BitVector32 masks I had to make two passes, once for the boolean
values, then a second one for the section (enum) values.
Using the BitVector32 class simplified my property procedures at the
"expense" of a little extra setup (the shared constructor).
I have not posted my class on got dot net yet, as I am still working on
making the WaitEvent async.
Hope this helps
Jay
"Charles Law" <bl***@nowhere.com> wrote in message
news:ep**************@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl... Sorry for asking this one again, but with the newsgroup now holding
things for an ever shorter time, I can't find my original question (and the
answers) from a few months ago.
I know that structures in VB.NET don't have bit fields, but I am looking
for a convenient way to reproduce the convenience afforded in C/C++.
If I have
typedef struct _MyStruct {
DWORD First
DWORD Second : 1
DWORD Third : 1
DWORD Fourth : 2
...
} MyStruct;
I would be forced to translate this into
Public Structure MyStruct
Dim First As Integer
Dim Flags As Integer
...
End Structure
and decode the values of Flags.
Does anyone have any suggestions for an elegant way to deal with this
scenario, ideally getting the benefit of intellisense, so that I can say
Flags = ValueOfThird
resulting in just bit 1 of the Flags element becoming set? Perhaps using
an enum with the FlagsAttribute?
Thanks.
Charles
Jay
As I am implementing this along the lines you describe, a couple of
questions occur.
Why are the variables m_fBinary, etc. Shared, and why ReadOnly, as they are
read and written, and all instances of DCB will share the same values. For
example, if I read the DCB first and want to keep a copy so I can reset it
at the end, when I change the values of the current DCB it will change my
copy as well, won't it?
Where you have put ... in Sub New(), I am not sure what the missing bits
should be. Could you add a few extra lines to make it a bit clearer (to me)?
Thanks again.
Charles
"Jay B. Harlow [MVP - Outlook]" <Ja************@msn.com> wrote in message
news:eg**************@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl... Charles,
In addition to the other's comments. I have used the
System.Collections.Specialized.BitVector32 to represent the bit fields
with some success.
Here is something I wrote about it a few months ago:
When I implemented the DCB structure in VB.NET I defined Flags as a
Private BitVector32. Then used Property procedures that extracted the individual
values, using the methods of BitVector32.
Public enum RtsControl As Byte
Disable = 0
Enable = 1
Handshake = 2
Toggle = 3
End Enum
Public Structure DBC
...
Private Flags As BitVector32
...
Private Shared Readonly m_fBinary As Integer
Private Shared Readonly m_Parity As Integer
...
Private Shared Readonly m_fRtsControl As BitVector32.Section
...
Shared Sub New()
' create boolean masks
m_fBinary = BitVector32.CreateMask()
...
m_fParity = BitVector32.CreateMask(m_fBinary)
...
' create section masks
Dim previousSection As BitVector32.Section
previousSection = BitVector32.CreateSection(1)
...
m_fRtsControl = BitVector32.CreateSection(3,
previousSection)
...
End Sub
Public Property Binary As Boolean
Get
Return Flags.Item(m_fBinary)
End Get
Set(ByVal value As Boolean)
Flags.Item(m_fBinary) = value
End Set
End Property
...
Public Property RtsControl As RtsControl
Get
Return CType(Flags.Item(m_fRtsControl), RtsControl)
End Get
Set(ByVal value As RtsControl)
Flags.Item(m_fRtsControl) = value
End Set
End Property
...
End Structure
BitVector32 is marshaled as an Integer (DWORD) so you can use them
interchangeably.
I made Flags Private as its an implementation detail.
The property procedures expose the flags as the respective types, For
example RtsControl & DtrControl as enums with valid values, others as
Boolean. I had to change a couple names as there is a field & a flag
(ErrorChar).
For the BitVector32 masks I had to make two passes, once for the boolean
values, then a second one for the section (enum) values.
Using the BitVector32 class simplified my property procedures at the
"expense" of a little extra setup (the shared constructor).
I have not posted my class on got dot net yet, as I am still working on
making the WaitEvent async.
Hope this helps
Jay
"Charles Law" <bl***@nowhere.com> wrote in message
news:ep**************@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl... Sorry for asking this one again, but with the newsgroup now holding
things for an ever shorter time, I can't find my original question (and the
answers) from a few months ago.
I know that structures in VB.NET don't have bit fields, but I am looking
for a convenient way to reproduce the convenience afforded in C/C++.
If I have
typedef struct _MyStruct {
DWORD First
DWORD Second : 1
DWORD Third : 1
DWORD Fourth : 2
...
} MyStruct;
I would be forced to translate this into
Public Structure MyStruct
Dim First As Integer
Dim Flags As Integer
...
End Structure
and decode the values of Flags.
Does anyone have any suggestions for an elegant way to deal with this
scenario, ideally getting the benefit of intellisense, so that I can say
Flags = ValueOfThird
resulting in just bit 1 of the Flags element becoming set? Perhaps using
an enum with the FlagsAttribute?
Thanks.
Charles
I am old to programming in general and new to VB (just to give the context
of my remarks.)
It is my understanding that "Private Shared" would make variables that are
the same across all instantiations of the class. But note that this is a
structure, not a class. Structures, I have been told, are your unique data
types and are treated as such. I, too, am confused as to the meaning of
"Shared" in a structure.
Awaiting the answer with bated breath.
"Charles Law" <bl***@nowhere.com> wrote in message
news:ei**************@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl... Jay
As I am implementing this along the lines you describe, a couple of
questions occur.
Why are the variables m_fBinary, etc. Shared, and why ReadOnly, as they
are read and written, and all instances of DCB will share the same values.
For example, if I read the DCB first and want to keep a copy so I can reset
it at the end, when I change the values of the current DCB it will change my
copy as well, won't it?
Where you have put ... in Sub New(), I am not sure what the missing bits
should be. Could you add a few extra lines to make it a bit clearer (to
me)?
Thanks again.
Charles
"Jay B. Harlow [MVP - Outlook]" <Ja************@msn.com> wrote in message
news:eg**************@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl... Charles,
In addition to the other's comments. I have used the
System.Collections.Specialized.BitVector32 to represent the bit fields
with some success.
Here is something I wrote about it a few months ago:
When I implemented the DCB structure in VB.NET I defined Flags as a
Private BitVector32. Then used Property procedures that extracted the
individual values, using the methods of BitVector32.
Public enum RtsControl As Byte
Disable = 0
Enable = 1
Handshake = 2
Toggle = 3
End Enum
Public Structure DBC
...
Private Flags As BitVector32
...
Private Shared Readonly m_fBinary As Integer
Private Shared Readonly m_Parity As Integer
...
Private Shared Readonly m_fRtsControl As
BitVector32.Section ...
Shared Sub New()
' create boolean masks
m_fBinary = BitVector32.CreateMask()
...
m_fParity = BitVector32.CreateMask(m_fBinary)
...
' create section masks
Dim previousSection As BitVector32.Section
previousSection = BitVector32.CreateSection(1)
...
m_fRtsControl = BitVector32.CreateSection(3,
previousSection)
...
End Sub
Public Property Binary As Boolean
Get
Return Flags.Item(m_fBinary)
End Get
Set(ByVal value As Boolean)
Flags.Item(m_fBinary) = value
End Set
End Property
...
Public Property RtsControl As RtsControl
Get
Return CType(Flags.Item(m_fRtsControl), RtsControl)
End Get
Set(ByVal value As RtsControl)
Flags.Item(m_fRtsControl) = value
End Set
End Property
...
End Structure
BitVector32 is marshaled as an Integer (DWORD) so you can use them
interchangeably.
I made Flags Private as its an implementation detail.
The property procedures expose the flags as the respective types, For
example RtsControl & DtrControl as enums with valid values, others as
Boolean. I had to change a couple names as there is a field & a flag
(ErrorChar).
For the BitVector32 masks I had to make two passes, once for the
boolean values, then a second one for the section (enum) values.
Using the BitVector32 class simplified my property procedures at the
"expense" of a little extra setup (the shared constructor).
I have not posted my class on got dot net yet, as I am still working on
making the WaitEvent async.
Hope this helps
Jay
"Charles Law" <bl***@nowhere.com> wrote in message
news:ep**************@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl... Sorry for asking this one again, but with the newsgroup now holding things for an ever shorter time, I can't find my original question (and the
answers) from a few months ago.
I know that structures in VB.NET don't have bit fields, but I am
looking for a convenient way to reproduce the convenience afforded in C/C++.
If I have
typedef struct _MyStruct {
DWORD First
DWORD Second : 1
DWORD Third : 1
DWORD Fourth : 2
...
} MyStruct;
I would be forced to translate this into
Public Structure MyStruct
Dim First As Integer
Dim Flags As Integer
...
End Structure
and decode the values of Flags.
Does anyone have any suggestions for an elegant way to deal with this
scenario, ideally getting the benefit of intellisense, so that I can
say
Flags = ValueOfThird
resulting in just bit 1 of the Flags element becoming set? Perhaps
using an enum with the FlagsAttribute?
Thanks.
Charles
Charles,
Shared Readonly fields are effectively Constants, in that a single copy of
them exist and you cannot change them. The cool thing about them (over a
constant) is you can set them at run time!
Seeing as those fields are the indexes & masks into the BitVector itself,
only a single copy of them need to exist and once they are set (in the
shared constructor) they do not change for the life of the program, seeing
as I am using the Shared methods on BitVector to "calculate" them I cannot
use a regular constant field, as you cannot call methods on an object or
class at compile time.
Note the BitVector itself is the instance variable, so each instance of the
class or structure will have a copy of the BitVector, however you only need
a single copy of the indexes & masks into this BitVictor. Where you have put ... in Sub New(), I am not sure what the missing bits
should be. Could you add a few extra lines to make it a bit clearer (to
me)?
They go in the Shared Sub New, you need a CreateMask call for each "bit" in
the BitVector, same with CreateMask.
' create boolean masks
m_fBinary = BitVector32.CreateMask()
m_field1 = BitVector32.CreateMask(m_fBinary)
m_field2 = BitVector32.CreateMask(m_field1)
m_field3 = BitVector32.CreateMask(m_field2)
...
m_fParity = BitVector32.CreateMask(m_field3)
Hope this helps
Jay
"Charles Law" <bl***@nowhere.com> wrote in message
news:ei**************@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl... Jay
As I am implementing this along the lines you describe, a couple of
questions occur.
Why are the variables m_fBinary, etc. Shared, and why ReadOnly, as they
are read and written, and all instances of DCB will share the same values. For
example, if I read the DCB first and want to keep a copy so I can reset it
at the end, when I change the values of the current DCB it will change my
copy as well, won't it?
Where you have put ... in Sub New(), I am not sure what the missing bits
should be. Could you add a few extra lines to make it a bit clearer (to
me)?
Thanks again.
Charles
"Jay B. Harlow [MVP - Outlook]" <Ja************@msn.com> wrote in message
news:eg**************@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl... Charles,
In addition to the other's comments. I have used the
System.Collections.Specialized.BitVector32 to represent the bit fields
with some success.
Here is something I wrote about it a few months ago:
When I implemented the DCB structure in VB.NET I defined Flags as a
Private BitVector32. Then used Property procedures that extracted the individual
values, using the methods of BitVector32.
Public enum RtsControl As Byte
Disable = 0
Enable = 1
Handshake = 2
Toggle = 3
End Enum
Public Structure DBC
...
Private Flags As BitVector32
...
Private Shared Readonly m_fBinary As Integer
Private Shared Readonly m_Parity As Integer
...
Private Shared Readonly m_fRtsControl As BitVector32.Section
...
Shared Sub New()
' create boolean masks
m_fBinary = BitVector32.CreateMask()
...
m_fParity = BitVector32.CreateMask(m_fBinary)
...
' create section masks
Dim previousSection As BitVector32.Section
previousSection = BitVector32.CreateSection(1)
...
m_fRtsControl = BitVector32.CreateSection(3,
previousSection)
...
End Sub
Public Property Binary As Boolean
Get
Return Flags.Item(m_fBinary)
End Get
Set(ByVal value As Boolean)
Flags.Item(m_fBinary) = value
End Set
End Property
...
Public Property RtsControl As RtsControl
Get
Return CType(Flags.Item(m_fRtsControl), RtsControl)
End Get
Set(ByVal value As RtsControl)
Flags.Item(m_fRtsControl) = value
End Set
End Property
...
End Structure
BitVector32 is marshaled as an Integer (DWORD) so you can use them
interchangeably.
I made Flags Private as its an implementation detail.
The property procedures expose the flags as the respective types, For
example RtsControl & DtrControl as enums with valid values, others as
Boolean. I had to change a couple names as there is a field & a flag
(ErrorChar).
For the BitVector32 masks I had to make two passes, once for the boolean
values, then a second one for the section (enum) values.
Using the BitVector32 class simplified my property procedures at the
"expense" of a little extra setup (the shared constructor).
I have not posted my class on got dot net yet, as I am still working on
making the WaitEvent async.
Hope this helps
Jay
"Charles Law" <bl***@nowhere.com> wrote in message
news:ep**************@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl... Sorry for asking this one again, but with the newsgroup now holding things for an ever shorter time, I can't find my original question (and the
answers) from a few months ago.
I know that structures in VB.NET don't have bit fields, but I am
looking for a convenient way to reproduce the convenience afforded in C/C++.
If I have
typedef struct _MyStruct {
DWORD First
DWORD Second : 1
DWORD Third : 1
DWORD Fourth : 2
...
} MyStruct;
I would be forced to translate this into
Public Structure MyStruct
Dim First As Integer
Dim Flags As Integer
...
End Structure
and decode the values of Flags.
Does anyone have any suggestions for an elegant way to deal with this
scenario, ideally getting the benefit of intellisense, so that I can
say
Flags = ValueOfThird
resulting in just bit 1 of the Flags element becoming set? Perhaps
using an enum with the FlagsAttribute?
Thanks.
Charles
Jay
Reading about BitVector32, MSDN states
<quote>
A BitVector32 structure can be set up to contain either sections for small
integers or bit flags for Booleans, but not both.
</quote>
However, you example appears to show both. When I tried to implement it I
ran into problems with the mask and section variables:
Private Shared ReadOnly m_fBinary As Integer
Private Shared ReadOnly m_fParity As Integer
Private Shared ReadOnly m_fOutxCtsFlow As Integer
Private Shared ReadOnly m_fOutxDsrFlow As Integer
Private Shared ReadOnly m_fDtrControl As BitVector32.Section
....
m_fBinary = BitVector32.CreateMask()
m_fParity = BitVector32.CreateMask(m_fBinary)
m_fOutxCtsFlow = BitVector32.CreateMask(m_fParity)
m_fOutxDsrFlow = BitVector32.CreateMask(m_fOutxCtsFlow)
m_fDtrControl = BitVector32.CreateMask(m_fOutxDsrFlow)
m_fDsrSensitivity = BitVector32.CreateMask(m_fDtrControl)
....
where the last two lines cause a compile error.
I have done the following
Private Shared ReadOnly m_fBinary As BitVector32.Section
Private Shared ReadOnly m_fParity As BitVector32.Section
Private Shared ReadOnly m_fOutxCtsFlow As BitVector32.Section
Private Shared ReadOnly m_fOutxDsrFlow As BitVector32.Section
Private Shared ReadOnly m_fDtrControl As BitVector32.Section
....
m_fBinary = BitVector32.CreateSection(1)
m_fParity = BitVector32.CreateSection(1, m_fBinary)
m_fOutxCtsFlow = BitVector32.CreateSection(1, m_fParity)
m_fOutxDsrFlow = BitVector32.CreateSection(1, m_fOutxCtsFlow)
m_fDtrControl = BitVector32.CreateSection(3, m_fOutxDsrFlow)
m_fDsrSensitivity = BitVector32.CreateSection(1, m_fDtrControl)
....
I have not included any CreateMask statements. All seems to be working well.
Have I missed something?
Charles
"Jay B. Harlow [MVP - Outlook]" <Ja************@msn.com> wrote in message
news:Ox**************@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl... Charles,
Shared Readonly fields are effectively Constants, in that a single copy of
them exist and you cannot change them. The cool thing about them (over a
constant) is you can set them at run time!
Seeing as those fields are the indexes & masks into the BitVector itself,
only a single copy of them need to exist and once they are set (in the
shared constructor) they do not change for the life of the program, seeing
as I am using the Shared methods on BitVector to "calculate" them I cannot
use a regular constant field, as you cannot call methods on an object or
class at compile time.
Note the BitVector itself is the instance variable, so each instance of
the class or structure will have a copy of the BitVector, however you only
need a single copy of the indexes & masks into this BitVictor.
Where you have put ... in Sub New(), I am not sure what the missing bits
should be. Could you add a few extra lines to make it a bit clearer (to me)?
They go in the Shared Sub New, you need a CreateMask call for each "bit"
in the BitVector, same with CreateMask.
' create boolean masks
m_fBinary = BitVector32.CreateMask()
m_field1 = BitVector32.CreateMask(m_fBinary)
m_field2 = BitVector32.CreateMask(m_field1)
m_field3 = BitVector32.CreateMask(m_field2)
...
m_fParity = BitVector32.CreateMask(m_field3)
Hope this helps
Jay
"Charles Law" <bl***@nowhere.com> wrote in message
news:ei**************@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl... Jay
As I am implementing this along the lines you describe, a couple of
questions occur.
Why are the variables m_fBinary, etc. Shared, and why ReadOnly, as they
are read and written, and all instances of DCB will share the same values.
For example, if I read the DCB first and want to keep a copy so I can reset
it at the end, when I change the values of the current DCB it will change
my copy as well, won't it?
Where you have put ... in Sub New(), I am not sure what the missing bits
should be. Could you add a few extra lines to make it a bit clearer (to
me)?
Thanks again.
Charles
"Jay B. Harlow [MVP - Outlook]" <Ja************@msn.com> wrote in
message news:eg**************@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl... Charles,
In addition to the other's comments. I have used the
System.Collections.Specialized.BitVector32 to represent the bit fields
with some success.
Here is something I wrote about it a few months ago:
When I implemented the DCB structure in VB.NET I defined Flags as a
Private BitVector32. Then used Property procedures that extracted the
individual values, using the methods of BitVector32.
Public enum RtsControl As Byte
Disable = 0
Enable = 1
Handshake = 2
Toggle = 3
End Enum
Public Structure DBC
...
Private Flags As BitVector32
...
Private Shared Readonly m_fBinary As Integer
Private Shared Readonly m_Parity As Integer
...
Private Shared Readonly m_fRtsControl As
BitVector32.Section ...
Shared Sub New()
' create boolean masks
m_fBinary = BitVector32.CreateMask()
...
m_fParity = BitVector32.CreateMask(m_fBinary)
...
' create section masks
Dim previousSection As BitVector32.Section
previousSection = BitVector32.CreateSection(1)
...
m_fRtsControl = BitVector32.CreateSection(3,
previousSection)
...
End Sub
Public Property Binary As Boolean
Get
Return Flags.Item(m_fBinary)
End Get
Set(ByVal value As Boolean)
Flags.Item(m_fBinary) = value
End Set
End Property
...
Public Property RtsControl As RtsControl
Get
Return CType(Flags.Item(m_fRtsControl),
RtsControl) End Get
Set(ByVal value As RtsControl)
Flags.Item(m_fRtsControl) = value
End Set
End Property
...
End Structure
BitVector32 is marshaled as an Integer (DWORD) so you can use them
interchangeably.
I made Flags Private as its an implementation detail.
The property procedures expose the flags as the respective types, For
example RtsControl & DtrControl as enums with valid values, others as
Boolean. I had to change a couple names as there is a field & a flag
(ErrorChar).
For the BitVector32 masks I had to make two passes, once for the
boolean values, then a second one for the section (enum) values.
Using the BitVector32 class simplified my property procedures at the
"expense" of a little extra setup (the shared constructor).
I have not posted my class on got dot net yet, as I am still working
on making the WaitEvent async.
Hope this helps
Jay
"Charles Law" <bl***@nowhere.com> wrote in message
news:ep**************@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
> Sorry for asking this one again, but with the newsgroup now holding
things > for an ever shorter time, I can't find my original question (and the
> answers) from a few months ago.
>
> I know that structures in VB.NET don't have bit fields, but I am
looking for
> a convenient way to reproduce the convenience afforded in C/C++.
>
> If I have
>
> typedef struct _MyStruct {
> DWORD First
> DWORD Second : 1
> DWORD Third : 1
> DWORD Fourth : 2
> ...
> } MyStruct;
>
> I would be forced to translate this into
>
> Public Structure MyStruct
> Dim First As Integer
> Dim Flags As Integer
> ...
> End Structure
>
> and decode the values of Flags.
>
> Does anyone have any suggestions for an elegant way to deal with
this > scenario, ideally getting the benefit of intellisense, so that I can say >
> Flags = ValueOfThird
>
> resulting in just bit 1 of the Flags element becoming set? Perhaps using an
> enum with the FlagsAttribute?
>
> Thanks.
>
> Charles
>
>
Charles,
Doh! I did not read that section of MSDN. ;-)
You are correct my sample uses both and both work!
The one caveat that I know of with BitVector32 is that you cannot use the
"high" bit of the underlying Int32 (the 32nd bit, starting with bit 1).
CreateMask only works with Integers.
CreateSection only works with Sections.
I actually made two passes, one pass to calculate the "Masks" using dummy
variables for fDtrControl. Then a second pass to calculate the "Sections"
using dummy variables for fBinary, fParity...
You can use only CreateSection, however getting the Booleans in & out of the
BitVector was then "more work" then I wanted in my property procedures...
Hope this helps
Jay
"Charles Law" <bl***@nowhere.com> wrote in message
news:OR**************@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl... Jay
Reading about BitVector32, MSDN states
<quote>
A BitVector32 structure can be set up to contain either sections for small
integers or bit flags for Booleans, but not both.
</quote>
However, you example appears to show both. When I tried to implement it I
ran into problems with the mask and section variables:
Private Shared ReadOnly m_fBinary As Integer
Private Shared ReadOnly m_fParity As Integer
Private Shared ReadOnly m_fOutxCtsFlow As Integer
Private Shared ReadOnly m_fOutxDsrFlow As Integer
Private Shared ReadOnly m_fDtrControl As BitVector32.Section
...
m_fBinary = BitVector32.CreateMask()
m_fParity = BitVector32.CreateMask(m_fBinary)
m_fOutxCtsFlow = BitVector32.CreateMask(m_fParity)
m_fOutxDsrFlow = BitVector32.CreateMask(m_fOutxCtsFlow)
m_fDtrControl = BitVector32.CreateMask(m_fOutxDsrFlow)
m_fDsrSensitivity = BitVector32.CreateMask(m_fDtrControl)
...
where the last two lines cause a compile error.
I have done the following
Private Shared ReadOnly m_fBinary As BitVector32.Section
Private Shared ReadOnly m_fParity As BitVector32.Section
Private Shared ReadOnly m_fOutxCtsFlow As BitVector32.Section
Private Shared ReadOnly m_fOutxDsrFlow As BitVector32.Section
Private Shared ReadOnly m_fDtrControl As BitVector32.Section
...
m_fBinary = BitVector32.CreateSection(1)
m_fParity = BitVector32.CreateSection(1, m_fBinary)
m_fOutxCtsFlow = BitVector32.CreateSection(1, m_fParity)
m_fOutxDsrFlow = BitVector32.CreateSection(1, m_fOutxCtsFlow)
m_fDtrControl = BitVector32.CreateSection(3, m_fOutxDsrFlow)
m_fDsrSensitivity = BitVector32.CreateSection(1, m_fDtrControl)
...
I have not included any CreateMask statements. All seems to be working
well. Have I missed something?
Charles
"Jay B. Harlow [MVP - Outlook]" <Ja************@msn.com> wrote in message
news:Ox**************@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl... Charles,
Shared Readonly fields are effectively Constants, in that a single copy
of them exist and you cannot change them. The cool thing about them (over a
constant) is you can set them at run time!
Seeing as those fields are the indexes & masks into the BitVector
itself, only a single copy of them need to exist and once they are set (in the
shared constructor) they do not change for the life of the program,
seeing as I am using the Shared methods on BitVector to "calculate" them I
cannot use a regular constant field, as you cannot call methods on an object or
class at compile time.
Note the BitVector itself is the instance variable, so each instance of the class or structure will have a copy of the BitVector, however you only
need a single copy of the indexes & masks into this BitVictor.
Where you have put ... in Sub New(), I am not sure what the missing
bits should be. Could you add a few extra lines to make it a bit clearer
(to me)?
They go in the Shared Sub New, you need a CreateMask call for each "bit"
in the BitVector, same with CreateMask.
> ' create boolean masks
> m_fBinary = BitVector32.CreateMask()
> m_field1 = BitVector32.CreateMask(m_fBinary)
> m_field2 = BitVector32.CreateMask(m_field1)
> m_field3 = BitVector32.CreateMask(m_field2)
> ...
> m_fParity = BitVector32.CreateMask(m_field3)
Hope this helps
Jay
"Charles Law" <bl***@nowhere.com> wrote in message
news:ei**************@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl... Jay
As I am implementing this along the lines you describe, a couple of
questions occur.
Why are the variables m_fBinary, etc. Shared, and why ReadOnly, as
they are read and written, and all instances of DCB will share the same values. For example, if I read the DCB first and want to keep a copy so I can
reset it at the end, when I change the values of the current DCB it will change my copy as well, won't it?
Where you have put ... in Sub New(), I am not sure what the missing
bits should be. Could you add a few extra lines to make it a bit clearer
(to me)?
Thanks again.
Charles
"Jay B. Harlow [MVP - Outlook]" <Ja************@msn.com> wrote in message news:eg**************@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
> Charles,
> In addition to the other's comments. I have used the
> System.Collections.Specialized.BitVector32 to represent the bit
fields with
> some success.
>
> Here is something I wrote about it a few months ago:
>
> When I implemented the DCB structure in VB.NET I defined Flags as a
Private
> BitVector32. Then used Property procedures that extracted the
individual > values, using the methods of BitVector32.
>
> Public enum RtsControl As Byte
> Disable = 0
> Enable = 1
> Handshake = 2
> Toggle = 3
> End Enum
>
> Public Structure DBC
> ...
> Private Flags As BitVector32
> ...
>
> Private Shared Readonly m_fBinary As Integer
> Private Shared Readonly m_Parity As Integer
> ...
> Private Shared Readonly m_fRtsControl As BitVector32.Section > ...
>
> Shared Sub New()
> ' create boolean masks
> m_fBinary = BitVector32.CreateMask()
> ...
> m_fParity = BitVector32.CreateMask(m_fBinary)
> ...
> ' create section masks
> Dim previousSection As BitVector32.Section
> previousSection = BitVector32.CreateSection(1)
> ...
> m_fRtsControl = BitVector32.CreateSection(3,
> previousSection)
> ...
> End Sub
>
> Public Property Binary As Boolean
> Get
> Return Flags.Item(m_fBinary)
> End Get
> Set(ByVal value As Boolean)
> Flags.Item(m_fBinary) = value
> End Set
> End Property
>
> ...
>
> Public Property RtsControl As RtsControl
> Get
> Return CType(Flags.Item(m_fRtsControl), RtsControl) > End Get
> Set(ByVal value As RtsControl)
> Flags.Item(m_fRtsControl) = value
> End Set
> End Property
>
> ...
>
> End Structure
>
> BitVector32 is marshaled as an Integer (DWORD) so you can use them
> interchangeably.
>
> I made Flags Private as its an implementation detail.
>
> The property procedures expose the flags as the respective types,
For > example RtsControl & DtrControl as enums with valid values, others
as > Boolean. I had to change a couple names as there is a field & a flag
> (ErrorChar).
>
> For the BitVector32 masks I had to make two passes, once for the boolean > values, then a second one for the section (enum) values.
>
> Using the BitVector32 class simplified my property procedures at the
> "expense" of a little extra setup (the shared constructor).
>
> I have not posted my class on got dot net yet, as I am still working on > making the WaitEvent async.
>
> Hope this helps
> Jay
>
>
> "Charles Law" <bl***@nowhere.com> wrote in message
> news:ep**************@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
> > Sorry for asking this one again, but with the newsgroup now
holding things
> > for an ever shorter time, I can't find my original question (and
the > > answers) from a few months ago.
> >
> > I know that structures in VB.NET don't have bit fields, but I am
looking > for
> > a convenient way to reproduce the convenience afforded in C/C++.
> >
> > If I have
> >
> > typedef struct _MyStruct {
> > DWORD First
> > DWORD Second : 1
> > DWORD Third : 1
> > DWORD Fourth : 2
> > ...
> > } MyStruct;
> >
> > I would be forced to translate this into
> >
> > Public Structure MyStruct
> > Dim First As Integer
> > Dim Flags As Integer
> > ...
> > End Structure
> >
> > and decode the values of Flags.
> >
> > Does anyone have any suggestions for an elegant way to deal with this > > scenario, ideally getting the benefit of intellisense, so that I
can say > >
> > Flags = ValueOfThird
> >
> > resulting in just bit 1 of the Flags element becoming set? Perhaps
using > an
> > enum with the FlagsAttribute?
> >
> > Thanks.
> >
> > Charles
> >
> >
>
>
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