hp16 and split octal conversion

[Roland57]

I like to share an interesting finding (maybe it is already well known):

hp16 is able to convert binary - octal - decimal - hex-numbers, e.g.

octal 177777 = FFFF hex

Some companies are using "split octal" representation (e.g. Heath Computer for their old 8-bit machines)

In split octal FFFF hex = 377.377 split octal (each byte is converted separately, the dot is just to indicate the split mode)

another example A9C2 hex = 124702 oct = 251.302 split.octal

Before you write a program on the hp16 to do the conversion, just put a zero between the two bytes, e.g. A9oC2 hex. Conversion to octal gives 251o302, the split octal value (with "o" als the digit zero to separate the two bytes).

Same works for octal to hex.

377o377 octal to hex gives FFoFF

Roland