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Numbers

One of the simplest constructs in ScriptX is the number literal. A number literal evaluates to an instance of the appropriate Number class. Figure 2-1 shows the available number classes. The "Numerics" chapter of the ScriptX Components Guide provides additional information on the range and precision of each of these classes.

Figure 2-1: ScriptX number classes

Floating-point numbers must begin with an integer-that is, you must use 0.1234 rather than simply .1234. Floating-point numbers with no fractional value must include a 0 after the decimal, that is, 4.0 or 12345.0, to differentiate them from integers. For example, 4.0 is treated as a floating point number, while 4 is treated as an integer.

Floating point numbers can also be represented using exponential notation.

6.023e23 -- Avogadro's number

Negative numbers are preceded by a minus sign.

-123.456

6.626e-27 -- Planck's constant

-0.99999999

Keep in mind that floating point values, unlike integers, are not stored with exact precision on computer systems.

4.2 -- it will be stored as an ImmediateFloat object

4.19999885559082

Hexadecimal Numbers

You can use numbers in scripts in hexadecimal form using the 0x notation. 

0xFFF

0x04

When a hexadecimal number literal is evaluated, ScriptX creates an instance of ImmediateInteger or LargeInteger, just as it would for its decimal equivalent. Only integer hexadecimal numbers are supported by ScriptX.

This document is part of the ScriptX Language Guide, one of the volumes of the ScriptX Technical Reference Series. ScriptX is developed by the ScriptX Engineering Team at Apple Computer, successor to the Kaleida Engineering Team at Kaleida Labs, Inc.

Copyright 1996 Apple Computer, Inc. All Rights Reserved.