Declaring an object with a string

Question

Is there a way to declare a data object (at runtime) from a
string descriptor? For example, lets say I load a text file that
contains the following string: "{name:"bob", age:42,
location:"earth"}". Is there a way to then have Flash parse the
string and interpret it as an Object object in memory?
Thanks!

Answer 1

This may be just what I need, thanks for the tip!
I've set up a quick test though, and I'm having some
problems. My code is as follows:
import JSON;
var str:String = "{'var1':'hello world'}";
var obj:Object = JSON.parse(str);
trace(obj.var1);
All that I'm getting is an "[object Object]" trace in my
output window (upon JSON.parse() calling). Scripts following the
parse command do not run (ie: the trace action). And, if I try to
access the obj object later (I was checking it upon a button
press), then Flash is reporting that obj is undefined. Do you have
any insight on this?
Thanks for your help!!