How to convert binary file data?

[DOC]

I must be missing something here. I am reading a file that has
binary data and want to be able to handle/convert it...

But I can't seem to figure out how to do it.

>>># read in 1 byte:
...buf=x.read (1)

>>># this is what's in buf
... buf
'\xe0'

>>># try the eval
...eval (buf)
Traceback...
...
SyntaxError: unexpected EOF while parsing

>>># OK try string.atoi!
...string.atoi (buf)
Traceback...
...
ValueError: invalid literal for int():

*********

An odd char is shown for both of the above. Likely unicode for \xe0.

So can someone tell me the right way to handle this?

Thanks,
DOC