>> I'm not using .NET, just trying to throw some ideas around.
If the ToUpper you were referring to is the .NET function, and you aren't using .NET, then I don't think it will work too well.
>> how is an actual word changed to upper case with this function?
It isn't. You change each character one at a time with either a loop or the transform algorithm I already mentioned. Using transform will allow you to do the whole string in a single line.
