ASC Function
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------


 Action

 Returns a numeric value that is the ASCII code for the first character in a
 string expression.


 Syntax

  ASC( stringexpression$)

 Remarks

 If the argument  stringexpression$ is null,  Basic generates the run-time
 error message Illegal function call.


 See Also

  CHR$; Appendix A, "Keyboard Scan Codes and ASCII Character Codes"


 Example

 The following example uses  ASC to calculate a hash value -- an index
 value for a table or file -- from a string.

 CONST HASHTABSIZE = 101
 CLS                             ' Clear the screen.
 INPUT "Enter a name. ",Nm$      ' Prompt for input.
 TmpVal = 0
 FOR I=1 TO LEN(Nm$)
     ' Convert the string to a number by summing the values
     ' of individual letters.
     TmpVal = TmpVal + ASC(MID$(Nm$,I,1))
 NEXT I
     ' Divide the sum by the size of the table.
     HashValue = TmpVal MOD HASHTABSIZE
 PRINT "The hash value is "; HashValue


 Output

 Enter a name. Bafflegab

 The hash value is  66