{
    if (initialValue == null)
    {
      return null;
    }

    char charValue = 0;
    try
    {
      Integer value = new Integer(initialValue);
      charValue = (char) value.intValue();
    }
    catch (NumberFormatException e)
    {
      char[] carray = initialValue.toCharArray();
      charValue = carray[0];
    }
    return new Character(charValue);
  }