VA Smalltalk provides Smalltalk methods to convert from single-byte strings to double-byte strings. Usually, you do not have to concern yourself with double-byte strings, because VA Smalltalk does the conversion automatically when it is required.

If your application supports double-byte strings, use the DBString class, or a similar double-byte string class, whenever you work with string variables. Then, when you request something in string format (asString), VA Smalltalk will return either a single-byte string or a double-byte string, depending on the country setting for your workstation. To see what class is appropriate for your workstation's setting, Display Locale new preferredStringClass.

To convert between single- and double-byte strings, use the following messages: