Need a C++ guru

[Kobaz]

Ok, that makes sense. Since (as was pointed out above) on a 32 bit system a long is the same precision as an int, what should I be casting to in order to get the scenario I started with, and how? And is casting 32 bit signed to 64 bit signed expensive?

[Shendare]

It isn't generally expensive at all. Most compilers and processors can work with 64-bit numbers inherently.

However, different compilers do use different terms for explicit 64-bit terminology. In MS C++ the internal type name is '__int64', as all of their integer types are actually aliases for __intXX precision-defining monikers (char is __int8, short is __int16, WORD would be 'unsigned __int16', etc.)

LONGLONG (all caps) is a common typedef defined in Windows.h for MS C++ as well, which maps to __int64.