Re: Help needed in port to GNAT95 from verdix

[Mats Weber <Mats.Weber@elca-matrix.ch>]

Paul Hussein wrote:
> 
> I do not understand  why a piece of code that works on verdix will not now
> work an gnat95, and this is an important piece of code. If anyone could help
> it would be most appreciated.

Because it contains assumptions about the 'Size of Float, and
unchecked_conversion to/from an array of floats. Consider yourself lucky if
this ports between different versions of the Verdix compiler.

> When I run this code sample, and the code itself  in our system I get a
> constraint error.
> This code endeavours to turn any type into an array of floats for passing
> over the network.

A very bad idea. Not any sequence of bits is a valid float.

If you really have to convert to something, then use 

   type Byte is 0 .. 255;
   for Byte'Size use 8;
   type Byte_Array is array (Positive range <>) of Byte;
   pragma Pack(Byte_Array);

where any sequence of bits is a valid value.