Given an av name only, how does one get their uuid key?

I've looked all over the wiki and cant find a way to convert an avatar name into a key (needs to be worldwide, on/offline). Does anyone have any hints?

Thank you,
-Sol Columbia

As far as I'm aware - and I may be wrong but I don't think I am - there isn't one, which is why people make key harvesting devices to match keys to names.

One can make a dataserver request once one has the key to get the name.

What is the application?

Ulrika runs a name2key system on http://www.ulrikasheim.org/tools/name2key.html it's not got 100% coverage, but it's a useful resource. If you know they're close you can also use http://secondlife.com/badgeo/wakka.php?wakka=llSensor

The application would be a gift vendor where a user could specify who the gift was to be purchased for (along the lines of Moopf Murray's ice skate vendors, or SL Boutique).

ah, i see and you want to give it directly to the recipient. I would actually recomend a transferable "box" that can email your vendor when the recipient gets it and touches it. It's possible to write a script that is a one shot deal and so the box could only give to one person. The box, because it doesn't actually contain the sold item, can be transferable even if the item is not. Actually one shot may not be a good idea. instead on touch have it lock itself to the toucher's key, so it can give to them repeatedly but only to them. That way if email is broken they don't loose their one chance at recieving it.

Hmm, I see. Great idea, thank you. I think I will try something along those lines.