Xml variables

hi

simple problem (i hope). i am using flash to extract data from an xml file. from one field, i am trying to extract a number/integer, but the value in the xml file is being read as a string (i.e “150” and not 150). obviously i have not used quote marks in the xml, thats just to demonstrate what i mean… but can anyone please enlighten me as to this problem. do i deal with this at the xml end or the flash end? i can flash ok, but my xml knowledge is pretty poor.

i dont know whether im missing something ■■■■ obvious, in which case im an idiot,

thanks for any replies.

sifu