What is the Java equivalent of Visual BAsic ASC() and MID() functions

Question

Hello all! I just would like to ask if you have any idea on how to convert the VB ASC() and MID() functions into java. Where:
1. ASC( ) Function - Returns the ANSI value for the leftmost character in a character expression.
2. MID() Function - The Mid method extracts a substring of length nCount characters from a CHString string, starting at position nFirst (zero-based). The method returns a copy of the extracted substring.
I would really appreciate your help. Thanx!

Answer 1

ah yeah! sorry typo error. see, I am converting a VB method that encrypts password:
Function EncryptText(ByVal stDecryptedText As String)
Dim stText As String, lngCounter As Long
Dim iTemp As Integer, lngNumber As Long
lngCounter = 1
lngNumber = 8
Do Until lngCounter = Len(stDecryptedText) + 1
iTemp = Asc(Mid(stDecryptedText, lngCounter, 1))
If lngCounter Mod 2 = 0 Then
iTemp = iTemp - lngNumber
Else
iTemp = iTemp + lngNumber
End If
iTemp = iTemp Xor (10 - lngNumber)
stText = stText & Chr$(iTemp)
lngCounter = lngCounter + 1
Loop
EncryptText = stText
End Function
I converted this function into this:
public static String encryptPass(String password) {
String encpwd = "";
int iTemp = 0;
final int lngNumber = 8;
String stText = "";
for ( int i = 0; i < password.length() ; i++ ) {
     iTemp = Character.getNumericValue(password.charAt(i));
     if ( i % 2 == 0 ) {
     iTemp = iTemp - lngNumber;
     } else {
     iTemp = iTemp + lngNumber;
     iTemp = iTemp ^ (10 - lngNumber);
     char c = Character.forDigit(iTemp,Character.MAX_RADIX);
     encpwd = encpwd + String.valueOf(c);
     return encpwd;
But I'm having trouble with the encryption because it returns a different set of characters. Did I convert it right? thanx.