I would like to work on a simple communication buffer array abBuf[6][7], that contains all kind of data (8 and 16bit and string) directly without type conversions etc. Example: I have a 16byte variable X stored at abBuf[3][1] and abBuf[3][2]. The order (big endian) corresponds to a normal unsigned int variable. Is there a sort of elegant typecast or definition in C possible that would allow me to printf(%u,???) or use its value as 16bit variable in a formula etc besides the definition of a big union? Werner
What's wrong with a union - that's the natural way to do it! It wouldn't have to be one huge union - you could make an 8/16-bit union (or whatever), and have an array of them. Or try putting "htons" into your favourite internet search engine.