Two AWK questions

[steve roush]

1 - Is there any way to re-evaluate an AWK character string?
    e.g. if s1="(2*8)+1", how do I re-evaluate s1 & set n1 to the result (17)?
    Better yet, if s1 = "n1=(2*8)+1", can I just evaluate s1, setting n1 to 17?

2 - Is there any way to get AWK to send a NUL to stdout?  I believe I
    can produce all the other "unprintable" characters, but not a NUL.

thanks
steve roush
AT&T - Denver
303-538-4860
ihnp4!drutx!csr