If you want to actually do something with the converted binary number, and can live with the precision loss, then this should work on any version of Perl.

It just breaks the 128-bit hex into 4 x 32-bit lumps, converts them to numbers and multiplies them out: 

$h = 'F23CC481AAE190180000000014000008';;
$n = 0.0; 
( $n *= 2**32 ) += unpack 'N', pack 'H*', $_ for unpack '(A8)*', $h;;

print $n;;
3.21988698417062e+038

printf "%.f\n", $n;;
321988698417062150000000000000000000000

[download]

Which compared to the full precision value: 321988698417062151410473125841815470088, represents an inaccuracy of 0.00000000000000043805% Very few applications need more.

To put that into perspective, it represents just 19 seconds on the age of the universe.

Examine what is said, not who speaks -- Silence betokens consent -- Love the truth but pardon error.
"Science is about questioning the status quo. Questioning authority".
In the absence of evidence, opinion is indistinguishable from prejudice.
RIP an inspiration; A true Folk's Guy

In reply to Re: Hexadecimal to binary by BrowserUk
in thread Hexadecimal to binary by Anonymous Monk

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