# String

`FUNCTION String ( Source AS String [ , Level AS Integer, AllowGrow AS Boolean ] ) AS String`

This function returns a string compressed using the algorithm defined by Type property.

- Source : string to be compressed.

- Level : compression level, a value from Min value to Max value. If this parameter is missing, Default will be used.

- AllowGrow : If this parameter is missing, or you pass FALSE as value, this function will return a compressed string only if its length is lesser than original (uncompressed) string length. If you pass TRUE, it always will return the compressed string. Note that almost all compression algorithms can really compress a string (reduce its length) only if it has clear patterns. Very short strings and random strings hardly can be compressed.

    ...
    Dim Cz As New Compress
    Dim Buf As String

    Cz.Type = "bzlib2"

    Buf = Cz.String(SourceString,Cz.Max,FALSE)

    IF Len(Buf) < Len(SourceString) THEN
        PRINT "Compression successfully finished"
    ELSE
        PRINT "Unable to compress that string"
    END IF
    ...