From: "Peña, Botp" <botp@...>
Date: 2008-11-27T16:44:34+09:00
Subject: Re: Alternatives to ?\C-n, ?\M-a etc in ruby 1.9

From: Nit Khair [mailto:sentinel.2001@gmx.com] 
# > why not create your own String#ord func?
# > 
# > i think string#ord works for both 1.8.7 and 1.9, so you 
# just have to 
# > create one for 1.8.6
# I *am* on 1.8.7:
# 
# irb(main):334:0> "a".ord
# NoMethodError: undefined method `ord' for "a":String
#         from (irb):334

oops, sorry, you're right, the #ord in 1.8.7 works only for integer..

>qri ord
     ...
     Returns the int itself.

        ?a.ord    #=> 97

This method is intended for compatibility to character constant in Ruby 1.9. For example, ?a.ord returns 97 both in 1.8 and 1.9.

i guess you'll really have to create one for 1.8.x