I have a ASP has a Function that converts

ä to &auml so far so good.

I have lets say space for 10 char's if there are more cut them of if there are less fill the space up with &nbsp's. . Like this:

test &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp

but if i say "täst" it does this:

te &auml t &nbsp

It interprets the &auml not as one char it looks at it as 6 chars. Is there a clever way around that? This problem messes up my design because I need the right count of spaces. The whole thing goes into a big select box.

Of you have to add a ; at the end of ever &... I could add them because the Editor would really interprt them.