16bit integer to string of two characters

[nixa]

I'm making program to comunicate with arduino using Arduino-EasyTransfer library. 

Data used by library is as follows:

HHLPPC -> H - header (2 bytes), L - length of payload (1 byte), PP - payload (up to 255 bytes), C - checksum (1 byte)

I'm using string functions to find data and i use 3 bytes of payload. First byte is number of "register", or just an identifier of what data is being sent, and an integer of 2 bytes to send value.

Now, to receive that integer, I use this function:
function strtoint(string$)    'string$ is second and third character of payload

   strtoint = asc(left$(string$, 1))*256+asc(mid$(string$,2, 1)) 'first byte multiplied by 256 + second byte

end function
To send data I use this:
function intto2char$(integer)

   hex$ = dechex$(integer)    ' make string of hexadecimal number

       while len(hex$) < 4    ' -- make it 4 characters long - 2 characters per byte

       hex$ = "0" + hex$

       wend                   ' --

   b1 = hexdec(left$(hex$, 2))    ' convert first two characters to decimal

   b2 = hexdec(right$(hex$, 2))    ' convert second two characters to decimal

   intto2char$ = chr$(b1)+chr$(b2)    ' convert to 2 bytes string

end function


This function does work, but it seems like waste of CPU. Can anyone recommend beter function?

[tsh73]


function intto2char2$(integer)
   b1 = int(integer/256)
   b2 = integer mod 256
   intto2char2$ = chr$(b1)+chr$(b2)
end function


[nixa]

Damn... That's elementary school programming. I feel ashamed.