Numeric encoding

If you set the MQMessage Encoding property, the following methods convert between different numeric encoding systems:

• ReadDecimal2 method

• ReadDecimal4 method

• ReadDouble method

• ReadDouble4 method

• ReadFloat method

• ReadInt2 method

• ReadInt4 method

• ReadLong method

• ReadShort method

• ReadUInt2 method

• WriteDecimal2 method

• WriteDecimal4 method

• WriteDouble method

• WriteDouble4 method

• WriteFloat method

• WriteInt2 method

• WriteInt4 method

• WriteLong method

• WriteShort method

• WriteUInt2 method

The Encoding property can be set and interpreted using the supplied WebSphere MQ constants.

Figure 1 shows an example of these:

Figure 1. Supplied WebSphere MQ constants for encoding

/* Encodings for Binary Integers */
        MQENC_INTEGER_UNDEFINED
        MQENC_INTEGER_NORMAL
        MQENC_INTEGER_REVERSED
 
/* Encodings for Decimals */
        MQENC_DECIMAL_UNDEFINED
        MQENC_DECIMAL_NORMAL
        MQENC_DECIMAL_REVERSED
 
/* Encodings for Floating-Point Numbers */
        MQENC_FLOAT_UNDEFINED
        MQENC_FLOAT_IEEE_NORMAL
        MQENC_FLOAT_IEEE_REVERSED
        MQENC_FLOAT_S390

For example, to send an integer from an Intel system to a System/390 operating system in System/390 encoding:

Dim msg As New MQMessage   'Define an WebSphere MQ message for our use..
Print msg.Encoding    'Currently 546 (or X'222')
                                            'Set the encoding property
                                             to 785 (or X'311')
msg.Encoding = MQENC_INTEGER_NORMAL OR MQENC_DECIMAL_NORMAL
                          OR MQENC_FLOAT_S390
Print msg.Encoding    'Print it to see the change
Dim local_num As long 'Define a long integer
local_num = 1234                            'Set it
msg.WriteLong(local_num)         'Write the number into the message