Constructing a Float from Integers

QUESTION: I have a integer array of two columns of numbers. I would like to make a floating number, using the integer value of the first column as the integer part of the number and the integer value of the second column as the decimal part of the number. For example:

   [345, 678] -> 345.678

How can I do this in IDL?

ANSWER: The answer to this question came from a variety of sources.

Before I begin with some of the explanations, it is helpful to know a handy algorithm for getting the number of digits in an integer. Apparently, this can be done by recalling your 7th grade math class and the discussion on logarithms. (If your math class occurred more than 40 years ago, you will not need an excuse from the teacher for not remembering this.) The number of digits in an integer can be found by taking the integer part of the base 10 logarithm of the number and adding 1 to it:

   IDL> int = 45932L
   IDL> numDigits = Long(ALOG10(int)) + 1
   IDL> Print, numDigits
        5

So, Mike Galloy's solution takes advantage of this fact. He solves the problem like this.

   IDL> d = Long(1000 * RandomU(-3L, 2, 5))
   IDL> Print, d
         897         558
         766         589
          60         973
          37         218
         142         984
   IDL> num = d[0,*] + d[1,*] / (10.0^(Long(ALOG10(d[1,*])) + 1))
   IDL> Print, num
      897.558
      766.589
      60.9730
      37.2180
      142.984

Bob Stockwell offers a slight variation to this method.

   IDL> num = d[0,*] + Float(d[1,*]) / 10^StrLen(StrTrim(d[1,*],2))
   IDL> Print, num
      897.558
      766.589
      60.9730
      37.2180
      142.984

Jean Hasban offers this solution.

   IDL> num = d[0,*] + Float('0.' + StrTrim(d[1,*],2))
   IDL> Print, num
      897.558
      766.589
      60.9730
      37.2180
      142.984

Version of IDL used to prepare this article: IDL 7.0.3.