Changing the Number Base

You can change the operating number base using the commands in Table 4-11.

Table 4-11 Changing the Number Base

Command	Stack Diagram	Description
.d	( n -- )	Display n in decimal without changing base.
.h	( n -- )	Display n in hex without changing base.
base	( -- addr )	Variable containing number base.
decimal	( -- )	Set the number base to 10.
d# number	( -- n )	Interpret number in decimal; base is unchanged.
hex	( -- )	Set the number base to 16.
h# number	( -- n )	Interpret number in hex; base is unchanged.
octal	( -- )	Set the number base to 16.
o# number	( -- n )	Interpret number in hex; base is unchanged.

The d# , h# and o# commands are useful when you want to input a specific number in another base without explicitly changing the current base. For example:

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ok decimal       (Changes base to decimal)
ok 4 h# ff 17 2
4 255 17 2 ok 

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The .d and .h commands act like "." but display the value in decimal or hexadecimal, respectively, regardless of the current base setting. For example:

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ok hex
ok ff .  ff .d
ff 255 

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