Unlocking Character Codes with Char and Unichar in Power Fx

The Curious Case of Character Codes

Ever wondered how computers represent the letters and symbols we see on screen? It’s all about character codes, numerical representations of each character. And in Power Fx, the Char and Unichar functions are your keys to unlocking this world of character manipulation.

Why Should You Care?

• Special Characters: Imagine needing to display a copyright symbol (©) or a degree symbol (°). These aren’t always easily typed.
• Data Integrity: Sometimes, you’ll work with data that includes non-standard characters or requires specific encoding.
• Advanced Text Control: For niche applications, you might need to generate text based on character codes for specific file formats or protocols.

Char vs. Unichar: What’s the Difference?

Honestly, not much! They’re aliases. Char(CharacterCode) and Unichar(CharacterCode) both convert a numerical CharacterCode into its corresponding character, using the UTF-16 encoding. Unichar is often preferred when you want to explicitly emphasize that you’re working with Unicode characters.

Practical Examples: Let’s Get Coding!

• Displaying a Copyright Symbol: Label1.Text = Char(169); // or Unichar(169)
• Creating a Custom Delimiter (e.g., File Separator): Set(customDelimiter, Char(28));
• Generating the Alphabet: ForAll(Sequence(26), {Letter: Char(65 + ThisRecord.Value - 1)})
  • This example uses Sequence to create a range of numbers and Char to convert them into letters.
• Adding Line Breaks: Label1.Text = "Line 1" & Char(10) & "Line 2";
  • Char(10) represents a line feed character.

Tips for the Character Code Adventurer:

• UTF-16 is Your Guide: Power Fx uses UTF-16. Familiarize yourself with UTF-16 character code tables.
• Error Prevention: Implement checks to handle invalid character codes gracefully.
• Readability Matters: Use comments in your formulas to explain what specific character codes represent.
• Unichar for Clarity: If you’re working with Unicode, Unichar can make your formulas more self-documenting.

Beyond the Basics: Where Do We Go From Here?

• Combine and Conquer: Use Char and Unichar with other Power Fx text functions for complex transformations.
• File Format Wrangling: Generate text tailored to specific file formats or protocols.
• Advanced Unicode: Explore the vast world of Unicode for specialized applications.

In Conclusion: Code Your Text!

Char and Unichar might seem like niche functions, but they offer a unique level of control over text in Power Fx. By understanding character codes, you can create more powerful and versatile applications.