Replacing a character input with a string and vice versa

[Sotos]

Hello!

I am making a little game of sorts, and I'd like to include two control options for the character movement.
The player should be able to either:
-type "east", "west", "north" or "south" to move in the appropriate direction (I have written the movement function)
-use the numbers on a keypad instead, thus replacing the directions with 2, 4, 6 and 8.

Is there any way to make the numbers equal to the strings so that both input methods can be used?

Also, for bonus points, (though this is pretty much an easier version of the question) is there a way to be able to also substitute "e", "w", "n" and "s" for the directions, while also keeping the full words and the number options?

Thanks in advance for any help!

[Matticus]

Why not just check the input string for each possibility?

if the string is "west", or the string is "w", or the string is "2",
    direction = WEST;
else if...

[Sotos]

I hadn't really thought to treat the numbers as strings too xD
Thanks for that, the simple things are the ones that elude me the most...

[Matticus]

You're very welcome. It's not unusual to find applications where you represent "numbers" as strings.