title: generating AES 256 bit key value
body: <p>Does anyone know of a way to get a 256 bit key value generated from a pass phrase of any length? The encryption cannot be salted as the encrypted values need to be generated again and compared in the database. So a value must generate the same encrypted string each time it is encrypted.</p>
  
  <p>Currently I'm using a 32 char key working on the possibly incorrect assumption this is 256 bits?</p>
  
  <p>So, I would want 'the quick brown fox' to be converted to a suitable AES 256 bit key?</p>