Resolve issues with functions and programming in Google Sheets

I need someone that can help my programmer resolve any issues he is having with a Google app and spreadsheet. I will pay $10 after Chuck tells me that he has gotten all that he needs from you. INITIAL PROBLEM: We have a google script running in conjunction with a google sheet, and we are having trouble with this function: function inCol( comparestr, searchcol, IDofSpreadsheet, NameOfTheSheet ){ var sheet =[login to view URL](IDofSpreadsheet).getSheetByName(NameOfTheSheet); var data = [login to view URL]().getValues(); [login to view URL]('incol( ' + comparestr + ')'); for(var i = 2; i < [login to view URL]; i++){ if(data[i][searchcol] == comparestr){ //[1] because column B return i; } } return -1; // no match found } It's always returning -1 because the comparestr is getting interpreted as a number instead of a string. How can I force a string comparison with this argument?