Converting to number

Question

I'm trying to make a little typing app, which loads the
exercises externally from text files.
Here's what's in my text file:
===================
ex1.text
===================
&words=12
&word0=jjj
&word1=jjj
&word2=jjj
&word3=jjj
&word4=jjj
&word5=jjj
&word6=jjj
&word7=jjj
&word8=jjj
&word9=jjj
&word10=jjj
&word11=jjj
words being the amount of words in the exercise (12), and the
rest being the words which should be typed.
===================
The Flash File (frame 1)
===================
var exerciseArray:Array = new Array();
var exLoadVars = new LoadVars();
exLoadVars.onLoad = startExercise;
exLoadVars.load("ex1.txt");
function startExercise(success) {
if (success) {
// load exercise
var numberOfWords:Number = Number(exLoadVars.words);
trace(numberOfWords);
for (i=0; i<numberOfWords; i++) {
trace("test");
} else {
trace("loading failed");
This should load my text file, and when I trace
exLoadVars.words, it outputs '12' just like it's supposed to.
However, if I convert this string to a number using var
numberOfWords:Number = Number(exLoadVars.words);
and then trace(numberOfWords); it outputs isNaN.
(obviously, the trace("test") does not fire at all because
numberOfWords is not a number)
Why doesn't this work ??

Answer 1

because you probably have white space after "12", like
"12\r". you can use your strings length property to check if its
length is 2 and you'll probably see that it's not.
to remedy string the white space from your string before
trying to convert it to a number.