sub DecodeBCD {
# Convert a string of hex digits such as "x\12x\34x\56"
# into a string of ASCII characters such as "123456".
    my $str = shift;
    my $hex;
    $hex .= sprintf "%02x", ord
        for split //, $str;
    return $hex;
} # End of Sub DecodeBCD

sub DecodeBCA {
# Convert a string of packed ALPHA digits such as "x\BDx\CCx\FF"
# into a string of ASCII characters such as "BDCCFF".
    my $str = shift;
    my $hex;
    if (length($str) > 0) {
       $hex .= sprintf "%02x", ord
           for split //, $str;
    } else {
       $hex = 0;
    }
    return $hex;
} # End of Sub DecodeBCD