From: Kevin Gallagher
Subject: Re: how to get x12 from the string "x12"?
Date: Wed, 24 Apr 1996 00:00:00 +0000
Message-ID: <4lk6a9$h8q@kernighan.cs.umass.edu>

Fei Xia writes:
> 
> I have a quick question. Is there any way to get the content of a string?
> for example, (some-function "x12") will return x12. some-function is
> what I am looking for.

If you're trying to get the symbol X12 then the best way to do it is
to use intern.  To use your function name:

  (defun some-function (string)
    (intern (string-upcase string)))