bignum 0.22 take 4 (hex()/oct() overloading)

Message-Id: <200706161433.47489@bloodgate.com>

p4raw-id: //depot/perl@31403

10 files changed, 433 insertions, 69 deletions

diff --git a/lib/bigint.pm b/lib/bigint.pm
index 26b8b2f1a4..c64116a427 100644
--- a/lib/bigint.pm
+++ b/lib/bigint.pm
@@ -117,12 +117,55 @@ sub in_effect
   $hinthash->{bigint};
   }
 
+#############################################################################
+# the following two routines are for "use bigint qw/hex oct/;":
+
+sub _hex_global
+  {
+  my $i = $_[0];
+  $i = '0x'.$i unless $i =~ /^0x/;
+  Math::BigInt->new($i);
+  }
+
+sub _oct_global
+  {
+  my $i = $_[0];
+  return Math::BigInt->from_oct($i) if $i =~ /^0[0-7]/;
+  Math::BigInt->new($i);
+  }
+
+#############################################################################
+# the following two routines are for Perl 5.9.4 or later and are lexical
+
+sub _hex
+  {
+  return CORE::hex($_[0]) unless in_effect(1);
+  my $i = $_[0];
+  $i = '0x'.$i unless $i =~ /^0x/;
+  Math::BigInt->new($i);
+  }
+
+sub _oct
+  {
+  return CORE::oct($_[0]) unless in_effect(1);
+  my $i = $_[0];
+  return Math::BigInt->from_oct($i) if $i =~ /^0[0-7]/;
+  Math::BigInt->new($i);
+  }
+
 sub import 
   {
   my $self = shift;
 
   $^H{bigint} = 1;					# we are in effect
 
+  # for newer Perls always override hex() and oct() with a lexical version:
+  if ($] > 5.009004)
+    {
+    no warnings 'redefine';
+    *CORE::GLOBAL::oct = \&_oct;
+    *CORE::GLOBAL::hex = \&_hex;
+    }
   # some defaults
   my $lib = ''; my $lib_kind = 'try';
 
@@ -162,6 +205,18 @@ sub import
       $trace = 1;
       splice @a, $j, 1; $j --;
       }
+    elsif ($_[$i] eq 'hex')
+      {
+      splice @a, $j, 1; $j --;
+      no warnings 'redefine';
+      *CORE::GLOBAL::hex = \&_hex_global;
+      }
+    elsif ($_[$i] eq 'oct')
+      {
+      splice @a, $j, 1; $j --;
+      no warnings 'redefine';
+      *CORE::GLOBAL::oct = \&_oct_global;
+      }
     else { die "unknown option $_[$i]"; }
     }
   my $class;
@@ -236,12 +291,18 @@ bigint - Transparent BigInteger support for Perl
   print 2 ** 512,"\n";			# really is what you think it is
   print inf + 42,"\n";			# inf
   print NaN * 7,"\n";			# NaN
+  print hex("0x1234567890123490"),"\n";	# Perl v5.9.4 or later
 
   {
     no bigint;
     print 2 ** 256,"\n";		# a normal Perl scalar now
   }
 
+  # Note that this will be global:
+  use bigint qw/hex oct/;
+  print hex("0x1234567890123490"),"\n";
+  print oct("01234567890123490"),"\n";
+
 =head1 DESCRIPTION
 
 All operators (including basic math operations) are overloaded. Integer
@@ -272,9 +333,9 @@ some functions. C<bigint> truncates these results to integer too:
 	2
 	# perl -Mbigint -wle 'print exp(1)'
 	2
-	# perl -Mbigint -wle 'print exp(1)'
+	# perl -Minteger -wle 'print exp(1)'
 	2.71828182845905
-	# perl -Mbigint -wle 'print exp(1) + 0'
+	# perl -Minteger -wle 'print exp(1) + 0'
 	2
 
 In practice this makes seldom a difference as B<parts and results> of
@@ -322,6 +383,18 @@ Note that setting precision and accurary at the same time is not possible.
 This enables a trace mode and is primarily for debugging bigint or
 Math::BigInt.
 
+=item hex
+
+Override the build-in hex() method with a version that can handle big
+integers. Note that under Perl v5.9.4 or ealier, this will be global
+and cannot be disabled with "no bigint;".
+
+=item oct
+
+Override the build-in oct() method with a version that can handle big
+integers. Note that under Perl v5.9.4 or ealier, this will be global
+and cannot be disabled with "no bigint;".
+
 =item l, lib, try or only
 
 Load a different math lib, see L<Math Library>.
@@ -472,6 +545,41 @@ Using methods that do not modify, but testthe contents works:
 See the documentation about the copy constructor and C<=> in overload, as
 well as the documentation in BigInt for further details.
 
+=head1 CAVAETS
+
+=over 2
+
+=item in_effect()
+
+This method only works on Perl v5.9.4 or later.
+
+=item hex()/oct()
+
+C<bigint> overrides these routines with versions that can also handle
+big integer values. Under Perl prior to version v5.9.4, however, this
+will not happen unless you specifically ask for it with the two
+import tags "hex" and "oct" - and then it will be global and cannot be
+disabled inside a scope with "no bigint":
+
+	use bigint qw/hex oct/;
+
+	print hex("0x1234567890123456");
+	{
+		no bigint;
+		print hex("0x1234567890123456");
+	}
+
+The second call to hex() will warn about a non-portable constant.
+
+Compare this to:
+
+	use bigint;
+
+	# will warn only under Perl older than v5.9.4
+	print hex("0x1234567890123456");
+
+=back
+
 =head1 MODULES USED
 
 C<bigint> is just a thin wrapper around various modules of the Math::BigInt
diff --git a/lib/bignum.pm b/lib/bignum.pm
index 3d79c52eeb..43233566bd 100644
--- a/lib/bignum.pm
+++ b/lib/bignum.pm
@@ -3,15 +3,22 @@ use 5.006002;
 
 $VERSION = '0.22';
 use Exporter;
+@ISA 		= qw( bigint );
 @EXPORT_OK 	= qw( ); 
 @EXPORT 	= qw( inf NaN ); 
-@ISA 		= qw( Exporter );
 
 use strict;
 use overload;
+require bigint;		# no "use" to avoid import being called
 
 ############################################################################## 
 
+BEGIN 
+  {
+  *inf = \&bigint::inf;
+  *NaN = \&bigint::NaN;
+  }
+
 # These are all alike, and thus faked by AUTOLOAD
 
 my @faked = qw/round_mode accuracy precision div_scale/;
@@ -47,24 +54,6 @@ sub AUTOLOAD
   Carp::croak ("Can't call bignum\-\>$name, not a valid method");
   }
 
-sub upgrade
-  {
-  $Math::BigInt::upgrade;
-  }
-
-sub _binary_constant
-  {
-  # this takes a binary/hexadecimal/octal constant string and returns it
-  # as string suitable for new. Basically it converts octal to decimal, and
-  # passes every thing else unmodified back.
-  my $string = shift;
-
-  return Math::BigInt->new($string) if $string =~ /^0[bx]/;
-
-  # so it must be an octal constant
-  Math::BigInt->from_oct($string);
-  }
-
 sub unimport
   {
   $^H{bignum} = undef;					# no longer in effect
@@ -78,12 +67,39 @@ sub in_effect
   $hinthash->{bignum};
   }
 
+#############################################################################
+# the following two routines are for Perl 5.9.4 or later and are lexical
+
+sub _hex
+  {
+  return CORE::hex($_[0]) unless in_effect(1);
+  my $i = $_[0];
+  $i = '0x'.$i unless $i =~ /^0x/;
+  Math::BigInt->new($i);
+  }
+
+sub _oct
+  {
+  return CORE::oct($_[0]) unless in_effect(1);
+  my $i = $_[0];
+  return Math::BigInt->from_oct($i) if $i =~ /^0[0-7]/;
+  Math::BigInt->new($i);
+  }
+
 sub import 
   {
   my $self = shift;
 
   $^H{bignum} = 1;					# we are in effect
 
+  # for newer Perls override hex() and oct() with a lexical version:
+  if ($] > 5.009003)
+    {
+    no warnings 'redefine';
+    *CORE::GLOBAL::oct = \&_oct;
+    *CORE::GLOBAL::hex = \&_hex;
+    }
+
   # some defaults
   my $lib = ''; my $lib_kind = 'try';
   my $upgrade = 'Math::BigFloat';
@@ -139,6 +155,20 @@ sub import
       $trace = 1;
       splice @a, $j, 1; $j --;
       }
+    elsif ($_[$i] eq 'hex')
+      {
+      splice @a, $j, 1; $j --;
+      no warnings 'redefine';
+      # override with a global version
+      *CORE::GLOBAL::hex = \&bigint::_hex_global;
+      }
+    elsif ($_[$i] eq 'oct')
+      {
+      splice @a, $j, 1; $j --;
+      no warnings 'redefine';
+      # override with a global version
+      *CORE::GLOBAL::oct = \&bigint::_oct_global;
+      }
     else { die "unknown option $_[$i]"; }
     }
   my $class;
@@ -193,7 +223,7 @@ sub import
     }
 
   # Take care of octal/hexadecimal constants
-  overload::constant binary => sub { _binary_constant(shift) };
+  overload::constant binary => sub { bigint::_binary_constant(shift) };
 
   # if another big* was already loaded:
   my ($package) = caller();
@@ -205,9 +235,6 @@ sub import
     }
   }
 
-sub inf () { Math::BigInt->binf(); }
-sub NaN () { Math::BigInt->bnan(); }
-
 1;
 
 __END__
@@ -230,6 +257,11 @@ bignum - Transparent BigNumber support for Perl
     print 2 ** 256,"\n";		# a normal Perl scalar now
   }
 
+  # for older Perls, note that this will be global:
+  use bignum qw/hex oct/;
+  print hex("0x1234567890123490"),"\n";
+  print oct("01234567890123490"),"\n";
+
 =head1 DESCRIPTION
 
 All operators (including basic math operations) are overloaded. Integer and
@@ -274,16 +306,16 @@ Since numbers are actually objects, you can call all the usual methods from
 BigInt/BigFloat on them. This even works to some extent on expressions:
 
         perl -Mbignum -le '$x = 1234; print $x->bdec()'
-        perl -Mbignum -le 'print 1234->binc();'
-        perl -Mbignum -le 'print 1234->binc->badd(6);'
-        perl -Mbignum -le 'print +(1234)->binc()'
+        perl -Mbignum -le 'print 1234->copy()->binc();'
+        perl -Mbignum -le 'print 1234->copy()->binc->badd(6);'
+        perl -Mbignum -le 'print +(1234)->copy()->binc()'
 
 (Note that print doesn't do what you expect if the expression starts with
 '(' hence the C<+>)
 
 You can even chain the operations together as usual:
 
-        perl -Mbignum -le 'print 1234->binc->badd(6);'
+        perl -Mbignum -le 'print 1234->copy()->binc->badd(6);'
         1241
 
 Under bignum (or bigint or bigrat), Perl will "upgrade" the numbers
@@ -308,9 +340,7 @@ There is also C<use bigrat;> which gives you big rationals:
         12381/10
 
 The entire upgrading/downgrading is still experimental and might not work
-as you expect or may even have bugs.
-
-You might get errors like this:
+as you expect or may even have bugs. You might get errors like this:
 
         Can't use an undefined value as an ARRAY reference at
         /usr/local/lib/perl5/5.8.0/Math/BigInt/Calc.pm line 864
@@ -377,6 +407,18 @@ line. This means the following does not work:
 
 This will be hopefully fixed soon ;)
 
+=item hex
+
+Override the build-in hex() method with a version that can handle big
+integers. Note that under Perl older than v5.9.4, this will be global
+and cannot be disabled with "no bigint;".
+
+=item oct
+
+Override the build-in oct() method with a version that can handle big
+integers. Note that under Perl older than v5.9.4, this will be global
+and cannot be disabled with "no bigint;".
+
 =item v or version
 
 This prints out the name and version of all modules used and then exits.
@@ -424,7 +466,7 @@ B<both> the original and the copy being destroyed:
         $x = 9; $y = $x;
         print $x->bmul(2), " ", $y,"\n";        # prints 18 18
 
-Using methods that do not modify, but testthe contents works:
+Using methods that do not modify, but test the contents works:
 
         $x = 9; $y = $x;
         $z = 9 if $x->is_zero();                # works fine
@@ -515,6 +557,41 @@ numbers or as a result of 0/0. '+inf' and '-inf' represent plus respectively
 minus infinity. You will get '+inf' when dividing a positive number by 0, and
 '-inf' when dividing any negative number by 0.
 
+=head1 CAVAETS
+
+=over 2
+
+=item in_effect()
+
+This method only works on Perl v5.9.4 or later.
+
+=item hex()/oct()
+
+C<bigint> overrides these routines with versions that can also handle
+big integer values. Under Perl prior to version v5.9.4, however, this
+will not happen unless you specifically ask for it with the two
+import tags "hex" and "oct" - and then it will be global and cannot be
+disabled inside a scope with "no bigint":
+
+	use bigint qw/hex oct/;
+
+	print hex("0x1234567890123456");
+	{
+		no bigint;
+		print hex("0x1234567890123456");
+	}
+
+The second call to hex() will warn about a non-portable constant.
+
+Compare this to:
+
+	use bigint;
+
+	# will warn only under older than v5.9.4
+	print hex("0x1234567890123456");
+
+=back
+
 =head1 MODULES USED
 
 C<bignum> is just a thin wrapper around various modules of the Math::BigInt
diff --git a/lib/bignum/t/bigint.t b/lib/bignum/t/bigint.t
index 03fb11bebe..baf76a3005 100755
--- a/lib/bignum/t/bigint.t
+++ b/lib/bignum/t/bigint.t
@@ -10,10 +10,10 @@ BEGIN
   $| = 1;
   chdir 't' if -d 't';
   unshift @INC, '../lib';
-  plan tests => 36;
+  plan tests => 51;
   }
 
-use bigint;
+use bigint qw/hex oct/;
 
 ###############################################################################
 # _constant tests
@@ -88,6 +88,29 @@ ok (bigint->round_mode('odd'),'odd');
 ok (bigint->round_mode(),'odd');
 
 ###############################################################################
+# hex() and oct()
+
+my $c = 'Math::BigInt';
+
+ok (ref(hex(1)), $c);
+ok (ref(hex(0x1)), $c);
+ok (ref(hex("af")), $c);
+ok (hex("af"), Math::BigInt->new(0xaf));
+ok (ref(hex("0x1")), $c);
+
+ok (ref(oct("0x1")), $c);
+ok (ref(oct("01")), $c);
+ok (ref(oct("0b01")), $c);
+ok (ref(oct("1")), $c);
+ok (ref(oct(" 1")), $c);
+ok (ref(oct(" 0x1")), $c);
+
+ok (ref(oct(0x1)), $c);
+ok (ref(oct(01)), $c);
+ok (ref(oct(0b01)), $c);
+ok (ref(oct(1)), $c);
+
+###############################################################################
 ###############################################################################
 # Perl 5.005 does not like ok ($x,undef)
 
diff --git a/lib/bignum/t/bignum.t b/lib/bignum/t/bignum.t
index ee5b8d4375..fe299a2e24 100755
--- a/lib/bignum/t/bignum.t
+++ b/lib/bignum/t/bignum.t
@@ -10,10 +10,10 @@ BEGIN
   $| = 1;
   chdir 't' if -d 't';
   unshift @INC, '../lib';
-  plan tests => 20;
+  plan tests => 35;
   }
 
-use bignum;
+use bignum qw/oct hex/;
 
 ###############################################################################
 # general tests
@@ -59,6 +59,29 @@ ok (bignum->round_mode('odd'),'odd');
 ok (bignum->round_mode(),'odd');
 
 ###############################################################################
+# hex() and oct()
+
+my $c = 'Math::BigInt';
+
+ok (ref(hex(1)), $c);
+ok (ref(hex(0x1)), $c);
+ok (ref(hex("af")), $c);
+ok (hex("af"), Math::BigInt->new(0xaf));
+ok (ref(hex("0x1")), $c);
+
+ok (ref(oct("0x1")), $c);
+ok (ref(oct("01")), $c);
+ok (ref(oct("0b01")), $c);
+ok (ref(oct("1")), $c);
+ok (ref(oct(" 1")), $c);
+ok (ref(oct(" 0x1")), $c);
+
+ok (ref(oct(0x1)), $c);
+ok (ref(oct(01)), $c);
+ok (ref(oct(0b01)), $c);
+ok (ref(oct(1)), $c);
+
+###############################################################################
 ###############################################################################
 # Perl 5.005 does not like ok ($x,undef)
 
diff --git a/lib/bignum/t/bigrat.t b/lib/bignum/t/bigrat.t
index c8162fc719..972b83cde2 100755
--- a/lib/bignum/t/bigrat.t
+++ b/lib/bignum/t/bigrat.t
@@ -10,10 +10,10 @@ BEGIN
   $| = 1;
   chdir 't' if -d 't';
   unshift @INC, '../lib';
-  plan tests => 25;
+  plan tests => 40;
   }
 
-use bigrat;
+use bigrat qw/oct hex/;
 
 ###############################################################################
 # general tests
@@ -63,6 +63,29 @@ ok (bigrat->round_mode('odd'),'odd');
 ok (bigrat->round_mode(),'odd');
 
 ###############################################################################
+# hex() and oct()
+
+my $c = 'Math::BigInt';
+
+ok (ref(hex(1)), $c);
+ok (ref(hex(0x1)), $c);
+ok (ref(hex("af")), $c);
+ok (hex("af"), Math::BigInt->new(0xaf));
+ok (ref(hex("0x1")), $c);
+
+ok (ref(oct("0x1")), $c);
+ok (ref(oct("01")), $c);
+ok (ref(oct("0b01")), $c);
+ok (ref(oct("1")), $c);
+ok (ref(oct(" 1")), $c);
+ok (ref(oct(" 0x1")), $c);
+
+ok (ref(oct(0x1)), $c);
+ok (ref(oct(01)), $c);
+ok (ref(oct(0b01)), $c);
+ok (ref(oct(1)), $c);
+
+###############################################################################
 ###############################################################################
 # Perl 5.005 does not like ok ($x,undef)
 
diff --git a/lib/bignum/t/in_effect.t b/lib/bignum/t/in_effect.t
index d2545e48cf..b163f12b8f 100644
--- a/lib/bignum/t/in_effect.t
+++ b/lib/bignum/t/in_effect.t
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ can_ok ('bignum', qw/in_effect/);
 can_ok ('bigrat', qw/in_effect/);
 
 SKIP: {
-  skip ('Need at least Perl v5.9.4', 3) unless $] > 5.009004;
+  skip ('Need at least Perl v5.9.4', 3) if $] < "5.009005";
 
   is (bigint::in_effect(), 1, 'bigint in effect');
   is (bignum::in_effect(), 1, 'bignum in effect');
diff --git a/lib/bignum/t/scope_f.t b/lib/bignum/t/scope_f.t
index e2d4417484..dd748e11c8 100644
--- a/lib/bignum/t/scope_f.t
+++ b/lib/bignum/t/scope_f.t
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/perl -w
 
 ###############################################################################
-# Test no bignum;
+# Test "no bignum;" and overloading of hex()/oct() for newer Perls
 
 use Test::More;
 use strict;
@@ -11,20 +11,31 @@ BEGIN
   $| = 1;
   chdir 't' if -d 't';
   unshift @INC, '../lib';
-  plan tests => 6;
+  plan tests => 10;
   }
 
+# no :hex and :oct means these do not get overloaded for older Perls:
 use bignum;
 
 isnt (ref(1), '', 'is in effect');
 isnt (ref(2.0), '', 'is in effect');
 isnt (ref(0x20), '', 'is in effect');
 
+SKIP: {
+  skip ('Need at least Perl v5.9.4', 2) if $] < 5.009004;
+
+  is (ref(hex(9)), 'Math::BigInt', 'hex is overloaded');
+  is (ref(oct(07)), 'Math::BigInt', 'oct is overloaded');
+  }
+
 {
   no bignum;
 
   is (ref(1), '', 'is not in effect');
   is (ref(2.0), '', 'is not in effect');
   is (ref(0x20), '', 'is not in effect');
+
+  isnt (ref(hex(9)), 'Math::BigInt', 'hex is not overloaded');
+  isnt (ref(oct(07)), 'Math::BigInt', 'oct is not overloaded');
 }
 
diff --git a/lib/bignum/t/scope_i.t b/lib/bignum/t/scope_i.t
index d663401659..4e2f1e6e7f 100644
--- a/lib/bignum/t/scope_i.t
+++ b/lib/bignum/t/scope_i.t
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/perl -w
 
 ###############################################################################
-# Test no bigint;
+# Test "no bigint;" and overloading of hex()/oct() for newer Perls
 
 use Test::More;
 use strict;
@@ -11,20 +11,32 @@ BEGIN
   $| = 1;
   chdir 't' if -d 't';
   unshift @INC, '../lib';
-  plan tests => 6;
+  plan tests => 10;
   }
 
+# no :hex and :oct means these do not get overloaded for older Perls:
 use bigint;
 
 isnt (ref(1), '', 'is in effect');
 isnt (ref(2.0), '', 'is in effect');
 isnt (ref(0x20), '', 'is in effect');
 
+SKIP: {
+  skip ('Need at least Perl v5.9.4', 2) if $] < "5.009004";	# quote due to "use bigint;"
+
+  is (ref(hex(9)), 'Math::BigInt', 'hex is overloaded');
+  is (ref(oct(07)), 'Math::BigInt', 'oct is overloaded');
+  }
+
 {
   no bigint;
 
   is (ref(1), '', 'is not in effect');
   is (ref(2.0), '', 'is not in effect');
   is (ref(0x20), '', 'is not in effect');
+
+  isnt (ref(hex(9)), 'Math::BigInt', 'hex is not overloaded');
+  isnt (ref(oct(07)), 'Math::BigInt', 'oct is not overloaded');
+
 }
 
diff --git a/lib/bignum/t/scope_r.t b/lib/bignum/t/scope_r.t
index 888398867e..784fe0e6b0 100644
--- a/lib/bignum/t/scope_r.t
+++ b/lib/bignum/t/scope_r.t
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/perl -w
 
 ###############################################################################
-# Test no bigint;
+# Test "no bigrat;" and overloading of hex()/oct() for newer Perls
 
 use Test::More;
 use strict;
@@ -11,20 +11,31 @@ BEGIN
   $| = 1;
   chdir 't' if -d 't';
   unshift @INC, '../lib';
-  plan tests => 6;
+  plan tests => 10;
   }
 
+# no :hex and :oct means these do not get overloaded for older Perls:
 use bigrat;
 
 isnt (ref(1), '', 'is in effect');
 isnt (ref(2.0), '', 'is in effect');
 isnt (ref(0x20), '', 'is in effect');
 
+SKIP: {
+  skip ('Need at least Perl v5.9.4', 2) if $] < 5.009004;
+
+  is (ref(hex(9)), 'Math::BigInt', 'hex is overloaded');
+  is (ref(oct(07)), 'Math::BigInt', 'oct is overloaded');
+  }
+
 {
   no bigrat;
 
   is (ref(1), '', 'is not in effect');
   is (ref(2.0), '', 'is not in effect');
   is (ref(0x20), '', 'is not in effect');
+
+  isnt (ref(hex(9)), 'Math::BigInt', 'hex is not overloaded');
+  isnt (ref(oct(07)), 'Math::BigInt', 'oct is not overloaded');
 }
 
diff --git a/lib/bigrat.pm b/lib/bigrat.pm
index 7888aa4481..884e9dab31 100644
--- a/lib/bigrat.pm
+++ b/lib/bigrat.pm
@@ -3,15 +3,22 @@ use 5.006002;
 
 $VERSION = '0.22';
 require Exporter;
-@ISA		= qw( Exporter );
+@ISA		= qw( bigint );
 @EXPORT_OK	= qw( ); 
 @EXPORT		= qw( inf NaN ); 
 
 use strict;
 use overload;
+require bigint;		# no "use" to avoid callind import
 
 ############################################################################## 
 
+BEGIN 
+  {
+  *inf = \&bigint::inf;
+  *NaN = \&bigint::NaN;
+  }
+
 # These are all alike, and thus faked by AUTOLOAD
 
 my @faked = qw/round_mode accuracy precision div_scale/;
@@ -48,24 +55,6 @@ sub AUTOLOAD
   Carp::croak ("Can't call bigrat\-\>$name, not a valid method");
   }
 
-sub upgrade
-  {
-  $Math::BigInt::upgrade;
-  }
-
-sub _binary_constant
-  {
-  # this takes a binary/hexadecimal/octal constant string and returns it
-  # as string suitable for new. Basically it converts octal to decimal, and
-  # passes every thing else unmodified back.
-  my $string = shift;
-
-  return Math::BigInt->new($string) if $string =~ /^0[bx]/;
-
-  # so it must be an octal constant
-  Math::BigInt->from_oct($string);
-  }
-
 sub unimport
   {
   $^H{bigrat} = undef;					# no longer in effect
@@ -79,6 +68,25 @@ sub in_effect
   $hinthash->{bigrat};
   }
 
+#############################################################################
+# the following two routines are for Perl 5.9.4 or later and are lexical
+
+sub _hex
+  {
+  return CORE::hex($_[0]) unless in_effect(1);
+  my $i = $_[0];
+  $i = '0x'.$i unless $i =~ /^0x/;
+  Math::BigInt->new($i);
+  }
+
+sub _oct
+  {
+  return CORE::oct($_[0]) unless in_effect(1);
+  my $i = $_[0];
+  return Math::BigInt->from_oct($i) if $i =~ /^0[0-7]/;
+  Math::BigInt->new($i);
+  }
+
 sub import 
   {
   my $self = shift;
@@ -87,6 +95,13 @@ sub import
 
   $^H{bigrat} = 1;					# we are in effect
 
+  # for newer Perls always override hex() and oct() with a lexical version:
+  if ($] > 5.009004)
+    {
+    no warnings 'redefine';
+    *CORE::GLOBAL::oct = \&_oct;
+    *CORE::GLOBAL::hex = \&_hex;
+    }
   # some defaults
   my $lib = ''; my $lib_kind = 'try'; my $upgrade = 'Math::BigFloat';
 
@@ -133,6 +148,18 @@ sub import
       $trace = 1;
       splice @a, $j, 1; $j --;
       }
+    elsif ($_[$i] eq 'hex')
+      {
+      splice @a, $j, 1; $j --;
+      no warnings 'redefine';
+      *CORE::GLOBAL::hex = \&bigint::_hex_global;
+      }
+    elsif ($_[$i] eq 'oct')
+      {
+      splice @a, $j, 1; $j --;
+      no warnings 'redefine';
+      *CORE::GLOBAL::oct = \&bigint::_oct_global;
+      }
     else
       {
       die ("unknown option $_[$i]");
@@ -184,7 +211,7 @@ sub import
     }
 
   # Take care of octal/hexadecimal constants
-  overload::constant binary => sub { _binary_constant(shift) };
+  overload::constant binary => sub { bigint::_binary_constant(shift) };
 
   # if another big* was already loaded:
   my ($package) = caller();
@@ -196,9 +223,6 @@ sub import
     }
   }
 
-sub inf () { Math::BigInt->binf(); }
-sub NaN () { Math::BigInt->bnan(); }
-
 1;
 
 __END__
@@ -219,6 +243,11 @@ bigrat - Transparent BigNumber/BigRational support for Perl
     print 1/3,"\n";			# 0.33333...
   }
 
+  # Note that this will make hex() and oct() be globally overriden:
+  use bigrat qw/hex oct/;
+  print hex("0x1234567890123490"),"\n";
+  print oct("01234567890123490"),"\n";
+
 =head1 DESCRIPTION
 
 All operators (including basic math operations) are overloaded. Integer and
@@ -406,6 +435,18 @@ line. This means the following does not work:
 
 This will be hopefully fixed soon ;)
 
+=item hex
+
+Override the build-in hex() method with a version that can handle big
+integers. Note that under Perl v5.9.4 or ealier, this will be global
+and cannot be disabled with "no bigint;".
+
+=item oct
+
+Override the build-in oct() method with a version that can handle big
+integers. Note that under Perl v5.9.4 or ealier, this will be global
+and cannot be disabled with "no bigint;".
+
 =item v or version
 
 This prints out the name and version of all modules used and then exits.
@@ -414,6 +455,41 @@ This prints out the name and version of all modules used and then exits.
 
 =back
 
+=head1 CAVAETS
+
+=over 2
+
+=item in_effect()
+
+This method only works on Perl v5.9.4 or later.
+
+=item hex()/oct()
+
+C<bigint> overrides these routines with versions that can also handle
+big integer values. Under Perl prior to version v5.9.4, however, this
+will not happen unless you specifically ask for it with the two
+import tags "hex" and "oct" - and then it will be global and cannot be
+disabled inside a scope with "no bigint":
+
+	use bigint qw/hex oct/;
+
+	print hex("0x1234567890123456");
+	{
+		no bigint;
+		print hex("0x1234567890123456");
+	}
+
+The second call to hex() will warn about a non-portable constant.
+
+Compare this to:
+
+	use bigint;
+
+	# will warn only under Perl older than v5.9.4
+	print hex("0x1234567890123456");
+
+=back
+
 =head1 EXAMPLES
  
 	perl -Mbigrat -le 'print sqrt(33)'