C# Build hexadecimal notation string

Question

How do I build an escape sequence string in hexadecimal notation.

Example:

string s = "\x1A"; // this will create the hex-value 1A or dec-value 26

I want to be able to build strings with hex-values between 00 to FF like this (in this example 1B)

string s = "\x" + "1B"; // Unrecognized escape sequence

Maybe there's another way of making hexadecimal strings...

Answer 1

You don't store hexadecimal values in strings.

You can, but it would just be that, a string, and would have to be cast to an integer or a byte to actually read its value.

You can assign a hexadecimal value as a literal to an int or a byte though:

Byte value = 0x0FF;
int value = 0x1B;

So, its easily possible to pass an hexadecimal literal into your string:

string foo = String.Format("{0} hex test", 0x0BB);

Which would create this string "126 hex test".

But I don't think that's what you wanted?

Answer 2

Please try to avoid the \x escape sequence. It's difficult to read because where it stops depends on the data. For instance, how much difference is there at a glance between these two strings?

"\x9Good compiler"
"\x9Bad compiler"

In the former, the "\x9" is tab - the escape sequence stops there because 'G' is not a valid hex character. In the second string, "\x9Bad" is all an escape sequence, leaving you with some random Unicode character and " compiler".

I suggest you use the \u escape sequence instead:

"\u0009Good compiler"
"\u0009Bad compiler"

(Of course for tab you'd use \t but I hope you see what I mean...)

This is somewhat aside from the original question of course, but that's been answered already :)

Answer 3

There's an '\u' escape code for hexadecimal 16 bits unicode character codes.

Console.WriteLine( "Look, I'm so happy : \u263A" );