How to Convert a Decimal Value to ASCII in Python

Discover a simple and effective method to convert a decimal string representing ASCII values into readable text using Python.
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How to Convert a Decimal Value to ASCII in Python

When working with different data formats like HEX, BIN, etc., you might find a need to convert a string of decimal numbers into ASCII text. This conversion can be challenging, especially when you’re not sure about the structure of the input string. In this guide, we'll explore how to effectively convert a string of decimal values into readable ASCII characters using Python.

The Problem

You may already know that a single character in ASCII can be represented by its decimal value, such as the number 116 referring to the character t. However, if you're dealing with a whole string like 116101115116, the question arises: How do we systematically convert this string into ASCII characters? Also, a major concern is determining how to properly segment the string, as ASCII values can have varying lengths (2 or 3 digits).

In this post, we'll tackle this challenge and provide you with a clear solution.

The Solution

To simplify the conversion of a string of numbers into ASCII text, follow the steps outlined below. This solution assumes that each ASCII character is represented by a fixed width of 3 digits, which is true in this specific example.

Python Function to Convert Decimal to ASCII

Here’s a simple Python function that takes a string of decimal numbers and converts it to text:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Explanation of the Code

Function Definition: The function convert_code_to_text is defined to accept one argument: code, which is a string of decimal numbers.

Chunk Size: We determine that each ASCII character is represented by 3 digits (you can modify this for cases with varying chunk lengths).

Loop Through Chunks: The function loops over the string in chunks of 3 digits, converts each chunk to an integer, and then retrieves the corresponding ASCII character using chr(). Each character is appended to a list called my_word.

Join and Return: Finally, the elements of my_word are joined together to form the final text string.

When It Gets Complicated

If the input string isn’t guaranteed to be in 3-digit chunks—such as when it includes ASCII representations that might only require 2 digits—this method will fail. If you encounter such cases, you will need a more robust solution that can handle dynamic lengths.

Conclusion

In this post, we explored a straightforward method to convert decimal values into ASCII characters in Python. The approach outlined works effectively with strings formatted with fixed 3-digit segments. For variable-length inputs, you may need to adapt the logic accordingly.

Now, you should be equipped with the knowledge to convert decimal strings into readable text. Happy coding!

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