def _convert_type_to_char(self, type_char):
        """
        Converts the given type code to an int

        :param type_char: A type code character
        """
        typecode = type_char
        if type(type_char) is int:
            typecode = chr(type_char)

        if typecode in self.TYPECODES_LIST:
            return ord(typecode)
        elif len(typecode) > 1:
            if typecode[0] == "L":
                return ord(self.TYPE_OBJECT)
            elif typecode[0] == "[":
                return ord(self.TYPE_ARRAY)

        raise RuntimeError(
            "Typecode {0} ({1}) isn't supported.".format(type_char, typecode)
        )
Converts the given type code to an int

        :param type_char: A type code character