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   I am a new programmer amnd I am trying to get a number from a keyboard and
   perform a loop based on that number.  However, the prgram keeps converting
   the number to the ascii equivalent.  How do I force the variable to stay
   with the slected number rather than the ascii equivalent?

It doesn't "convert it to the ASCII equivalent."  Everything read from
stdin ("the keyboard") is in text form ("ASCII").  If you need it to
be in another form, such as an integer, you must convert it yourself.
Look up sscanf() and strtol() for some helpful functions for doing
this.
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Francis Glassborow      Journal Editor, Association of C & C++ Users
64 Southfield Rd
Oxford OX4 1PA          +44(0)1865 246490
All opinions are mine and do not represent those of any organisation
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