int to string

app.py

@@ -237,16 +237,18 @@ async def add_exp(member_id):
                     # increment the old experience value (better not to replace outright)
                     old_xp = global_df.loc[index, 'discord_exp']
                     # remove L (write, so we replace)
+                    old_xp = str(old_xp)
                     if old_xp.startswith("L") and old_xp.endswith("L"):  
                         old_xp = old_xp[1:-1]
                     # str -> int temporarily
                     new_xp = int(old_xp) + XP_PER_MESSAGE
                     # check + convert back to string + google sheet proofing
-                    if not new_xp[0] == "L" and not new_xp[-1] == "L": 
+                    new_xp = str(new_xp)
+                    if not new_xp.startswith("L") and not new_xp.endswith("L"): 
                         new_xp = f"L" + str(new_xp) + f"L"
 
                     # add back to dataframe in memory after checking redundantly; 
-                    if new_xp[0] == "L" and new_xp[-1] == "L": 
+                    if new_xp.startswith("L") and new_xp.endswith("L"): 
                         global_df.loc[index, 'discord_exp'] = new_xp # do not change column name
                         print(f"Record for {member} updated from {old_xp} to {global_df.loc[index, 'discord_exp']} (+{XP_PER_MESSAGE}) ")
         
@@ -354,7 +356,8 @@ async def add_exp(member_id):
             print(f"Creating new record for {member}")            
             
             xp = 10 # define somewhere else?
-            if not xp[0] == "L" and not xp[-1] == "L": 
+            xp = str(xp)
+            if not xp.startswith("L") and not xp.endswith("L"): 
                 xp = f"L" + str(xp) + f"L"            
             member_id = str(member_id)
             if not member_id.startswith("L") and not member_id.endswith("L"):