Linux shell scripting: hex number to binary string

Question

I am looking for an easy way in a shell script to convert a hex number into a sequence of 0 and 1 characters.

Example:

5F -> "01011111"

Is there any command or easy method to accomplish this or should I write some switch for it?

Answer 1

I used 'bc' command in Linux. (much more complex calculator than converting!)

echo 'ibase=16;obase=2;5f' | bc

ibase parameter is the input base (hexa in this case), and obase the output base (binary).

Hope it helps.