[Tutor] convert a file from plaintext(Ascii) to unicode? very quick questions

[D. Hartley]

Hello guys!

Is there a way to convert a file from plaintext(Ascii) to unicode?  I
have found all my notes about moving between hex., int's, chr's,
ord's, etc, but all of these things were only riddle exercises to me
and I have a hard time keeping them straight.  I'm pretty sure I knew
the answer to this and now cannot find it anywhere (even googling
through my old tutor posts!)

Does anyone have a quick answer/pointer?

Thanks so much!

~Denise