C++ :: String To Int To Byte?

Right now im creating a program that use xbox inputs and then send out keyboard functions using sendInput();

It works fine, but now im creating a system wich lets the user of the program change the settings in a textfile. Wich will then change what the controllers bindings are.

example, if settings.txt says: Y=button(0xIE)

i want the program to know that when xbox button Y is pressed, execute a sendInput function to the Key: A (0xIE).

The problem is that the virtual keycode (0xIE) i take from the settings.txt is stored as a string (lets say it is stored in string Y_event)and input.ki.wScan has to be of type BYTE. i made a function wich changes string into int. (because input.ki.wScan seems to be fine getting a int?)

int stringToInt(string insert) {
char back[20];
for(unsigned int e=0;e < insert.length();e++) {
back[e]=insert[e];
} return atoi(back);
}

but when i run the code nothing happend...

In the code i have a function wich executes the keypress: void pressbutton(int key, int time)

when i send in the converted string it doesn't work but when i send in: (0xIE) it works.

pressButton(stringToInt(Y_Event),50) // doesn't work
pressButton(0xIE,50) // works

focus on the last part that i wrote.