converting a letter to an ascii value

[damon2003]

hi,
is there a function to convert a letter of the alphabet to an ascii value and what is the definition of an ascii value, is it just a number?
thanks

[haastnooit]

It is a coding scheme which assigns numeric
values to letters, numbers, punctuation marks, and other certain characters
such as control codes.

<SCRIPT LANGUAGE="JavaScript">

function showKeyCode()
{
var character = document.characterCode.character.value.substring(0,1);
var code = document.characterCode.character.value.charCodeAt(0);
var msg = "The ASCII Decimal Key Code for the \""+character+"\" character is "+code+".";
alert(msg);
}

</script>

<form name="characterCode">
<center>Type A Character:
<input type="text" name="character" size="15">
<input type="button" value="Show Key Code" onClick="showKeyCode();">
</center>
</form>

[damon2003]

Hi


thanks that works good. However, I ran into another small problem because I found different value are given depending on the case of the variable

I have this:
var minLetter = (eval("document.form1."+hiddentextfieldMinRingSize+".value"));
var minLetterLower = minLetter.toLowerCase();
eval("document.form1."+hiddentextfieldMinRingSize+".value = "+ minLetterLower);
var minCode = (eval("document.form1."+hiddentextfieldMinRingSize+".value.charCodeAt(0)"));


I am dynamically creating the reference name of the hidden field.
The value in the field when I am testing is 'M', then I convert it to 'm'. I think it is the third line above, where there is a problem. When I try to set the hidden field value to m, it tells me 'm' is undefined
Anyway, it keeps telling me something is indefined. How can this be resolved,
thanks

[fredmv]

Can we please see the rest of the code you are working with or possibly a link to the page?

[damon2003]

Hi,
I have got it working a different, without having to reset the value of the hidden field,

//first store max value
var maxLetter = (eval("document.form1."+hiddentextfieldRingSizeIntialA+".value"));
maxLetter = maxLetter.toLowerCase();
maxLetter = maxLetter.charCodeAt(0)

//store actual value in ring size textfield
var actualLetter = (eval("document.form1."+textfieldRingSize+".value"));
actualLetter = actualLetter.toLowerCase();
actualLetter = actualLetter.charCodeAt(0)

if (actualLetter<minLetter)
{
returnVal = false;
alert("You have entered a ring size too low for this product");
}