map string to integer in vhdl

[sridhara]

hi ..
I want to know how to map a string to an integer

(ie) if i give abcd=5;

the code has to take it as output[3]=5;

i dont mean to say output[3]= abcd;

i want to map abcd with 3.....
efgh with 4..... like tat
xyz with 5 ....

Is it possible??