.text
.globl __start
__start:
 
# code asking for the input
li $v0, 4
la $a0, ch
syscall
 
# read string syscall to read in a single charchter and newline charchter
la $a0, L
li $a1, 3
li $v0, 8
syscall
 
# store the charchter into a register, t1
li $t0, 0
lw $t1, L($t0)
sw $tl, L
 
 
# at this point I am stuck, how do I convert the ASCII charchter to a decimal number?  I have no idea where to even start, the book I have has no examples of this...
 
...program continues
The next step I need to do is to take the decimal number and use shifting and msaking to get the value of each bit to convert it to a 7 bit binary code.
 
.text
ch: .asciiz "ch? "
L: .space 12