How exactly the 'anything' type works?

[Dark Schneider]

If we don't specify a type (a% or a#) what exactly happens?. An example: I want to create a TYPE rectangle, if I do the followirng:

Code (glbasic) Select Expand


TYPE TRectangle
   left
   right
   width
   height
ENDTYPE


How it works?, it is dynamically converted?, it is used as template and then the compiler creates the % and/or the # version when needed/used?.

Because sometimes it is preferable to force the use of the IPU (Integer Processing Unit) instead the FPU, specially on devices. Then, with the prior example, should I do:

1) At use: assign by 'rect.left%=value', this is, referencing always with the % for specify type.

2) Create 2 rectangles:

Code (glbasic) Select Expand


TYPE TRectangle
   left%
   right%
   width%
   height%
ENDTYPE


and

Code (glbasic) Select Expand


TYPE TRectangleF
   left#
   right#
   width#
   height#
ENDTYPE


I'd like to know how GLBasic works internally with this to handle it correctly.

[MrTAToad]

Using # or nothing defines a variable as a floating-point one.  To use integer, the variable has to be initially defined with %, after which it can be left off (although I feel its bad practise to).  You can do this because a variable retains its type after being defined - although for strings, you do need to keep using $.

Never heard of an IPU though...

[Moru]

To force floating point calculations you need to use decimals. For example 1/100 will give 0 but 1/100.0 will give what you expect. As far as I know, GLBasic is working with integers unless you specify floating point by using a decimal somewhere.

[Kitty Hello]

For constants it's using what you type: 1/3 is int/int -> int. 1/3.0 or 1.0/3 is int/float or float/int -> float.
If you make a variable without %#, it will be auto-# (float).