(SOLVED)how to convert hex string to bytes array using the same value

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Just for an example
Inside the Textbox.Text I have:

String = "01-23-45-67-89"

I want to convert it to Byte array with same value with &H

Byte = " &H01, &H23, &H45, &H67, &H89"

any suggestion please.

What I have tried:

Private Function HexStringToBytes(ByVal input As String) As Byte()
 
    Dim byteStrings() As String = input.Split(New Char() {","c})
    If (byteStrings.Length > 0) Then
        Dim retVal() As Byte = CType(Array.CreateInstance(GetType(Byte), byteStrings.Length), Byte())
        Dim idx As Integer = 0
        For Each byteString As String In byteStrings
            retVal(idx) = Convert.ToByte(byteString, 16)
            idx += 1
        Next
        Return retVal
    End If
    Return New Byte() {}
End Function

Posted 10-Mar-21 23:06pm

Nicky Ralph

Updated 23-Mar-21 23:09pm

v2

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jsc42 11-Mar-21 5:16am

Are you trying to create a string with "&Hxx" texts in it, as per your description; or an array of bytes as per your sample code?
If it is the string, then you can do a simple text conversion e.g. Dim byteString As String = "&H" & inputString.Replace("-", ", &H")
If it is the array of bytes, then I'll let someone else reply as the technique is slightly harder and will need something in a 'Solution' section rather that a 'Comment' section.

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OriginalGriff · Answer 1 · 2021-03-10T23:38:00

There is a function in .NET which might help: SoapHexBinary.Parse(String) Method (System.Runtime.Remoting.Metadata.W3cXsd2001) | Microsoft Docs[^] - it requires spaces instead of hyphens, but string.Replace will deal with that.

VB

Dim s As String = "FF FF FF FF 82 00 01 02 03 04 00 05 01 02 03 04 05 ee ed"
Dim bytes As Byte() = SoapHexBinary.Parse(s).Value

Richard Deeming · Answer 2 · 2021-03-11T00:11:00

Solution 2

Same as yesterday[^], but with a different increment:

VB.NET

Shared Function HexStringToBytes(ByVal hexString As String) As Byte()
    Dim result As New List(Of Byte)()
    For i As Integer = 0 To hexString.Length - 1 Step 3
        result.Add(Convert.ToByte(hexString.Substring(i, 2), 16))
    Next
    Return result.ToArray()
End Function

Or, using a variation of your function:

VB.NET

Shared Function HexStringToBytes(ByVal input As String) As Byte()
    Dim byteStrings() As String = input.Split(New Char() {"-"c})
    Dim retVal() As Byte = Array.ConvertAll(byteStrings, Function(s) Convert.ToByte(s, 16))
    Return retVal
End Function

EDIT: Based on your comment, you are actually trying to convert an array of bytes to a string. Again, I gave you that function yesterday:

VB.NET

Shared Function BytesToHexString(ByVal bytes As Byte()) As String
    Dim sb As New StringBuilder()
    For i As Integer = 0 To bytes.Length - 1
        sb.Append(bytes(i).ToString("X2"))
    Next
    Return sb.ToString()
End Function

Posted 11-Mar-21 0:11am

Richard Deeming

Updated 11-Mar-21 0:52am

v3

Comments

Nicky Ralph 11-Mar-21 6:47am

I tried to use the code above and get the value of textbox1 to show it on Richtext1, I got and error " dimensional array of Byte cannot be converted to string"

Private Sub Button1_Click(
        'RichTextBox1.Text = HexStringToBytes(TextBox1.Text)
End Sub

Richard Deeming 11-Mar-21 6:51am

Well, once again, you've described things the wrong way round.

Your question is about converting a string to an array of bytes.

That error tells me you are trying to convert an array of bytes to a string.

Stop randomly typing code, and start thinking about what you are trying to do!

Richard Deeming 11-Mar-21 7:04am

The textbox text is a STRING. It is NOT a byte array!

You want to convert a byte array to a string. As I showed you yesterday.

Nicky Ralph 11-Mar-21 7:08am

YES, I want to convert string into byte array with same value of hex. something like this, Inside the textbox1.text is a HEX VALUE

TEXTBOX1.TEXT = "A1-B2-C3-D4-E5"

I want to convert it into byte like

byte() ={&HA1, &HB2, &HC3, &HD4, &hE5}

Richard Deeming 11-Mar-21 7:09am

No, you don't.

You want to convert the string to a byte array - which I've already shown you how to do - and then convert the byte array back to a string - which I've also shown you how to do.

You cannot store a byte array in a string property!

Nicky Ralph 11-Mar-21 7:14am

Thank you, I'll try it again, I'll update you.

Nicky Ralph 11-Mar-21 7:16am

This is what I did

Imports System.IO
Imports System.Text
Imports System.Security.Cryptography

Public Class Form1
    Shared Function HexStringToBytes1(ByVal hexString As String) As Byte()
        Dim result As New List(Of Byte)()
        For i As Integer = 0 To hexString.Length - 1 Step 3
            result.Add(Convert.ToByte(hexString.Substring(i, 2), 16))
        Next
        Return result.ToArray()
    End Function

    Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
        RichTextBox1.Text = HexStringToBytes(TextBox1.Text)
    End Sub
End Class

Richard Deeming 11-Mar-21 7:19am

I give up. You're clearly not prepared to listen.

You CANNOT store a BYTE ARRAY in a STRING property.

You have a function to get from A to B, and another function to get from B to C. And yet somehow you cannot work out how to get from A to C.

This is basic stuff. Perhaps you should consider switching to a different course - not everyone is cut out for writing code.

Nicky Ralph 11-Mar-21 7:45am

I did this:
Dim HexArray as Byte() = New byte() { }
how can i get the value of textbox1.text using this

HexStringToBytes(input)

Richard Deeming 11-Mar-21 7:50am

Seriously? How long did you spend as a child trying to force the square peg into the round hole?

You CANNOT store a byte array in a string property. You need to convert the byte array to a string first. Which I have already shown you how to do.

Ralf Meier 11-Mar-21 9:04am

@Richard:
I admire your patience ...

Ralf Meier 11-Mar-21 9:07am

Why don't you listen to what Richard wrote to you ?
Don't you know the difference between those Types of Variables ?

What I don't understand :
You have a String why those values inside. Why do you first convert it to an Array and after this want it back as a string ?
If you can answer this I suppose you find the real answer by yourself ...
sorry for that ...

(SOLVED)how to convert hex string to bytes array using the same value

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