# XML : I want a number, not a string

**URL:** <https://forum.kirupa.com/t/xml-i-want-a-number-not-a-string/71977>\
**Category:** flash\
**Created:** [December 1, 2004, 4:22am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/xml-i-want-a-number-not-a-string/71977 "2004-12-01T04:22:45Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Blackspirit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8edcca/32.png) [@Blackspirit](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/Blackspirit)\
**Post date:** [December 1, 2004, 4:22am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/xml-i-want-a-number-not-a-string/71977/1 "2004-12-01T04:22:45Z")

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Ok,

I’m loading data from an xml file.  
Anything loaded from it is a string.

Later, I want to be able to do some maths, say:

aBetterNumber = xmlLoadedVar + aNumber;

aBetterNumber just turns out to be the two variables concatinated together.

Any thoughts?