Convert words to commands

wordToCommands.py

def wordToCommands(word, cols):
  ''' ASCII code for A '''
  orda = ord('A')

  ''' 
  Starting POS (equivalent of A) 
  
  (tuple): 
    first position represents up / down
    second postion left / right
  '''
  currentPos = (0,0)

  ''' Initialize list of commands '''
  commands = []

  ''' Make all characters uppercase '''
  word = word.upper()
  for ch in word:
    ''' Calculate ch's numeric value '''
    ch = ord(ch) - orda

    ''' Calculate ch's grid position ''' 
    newPos = (ch // cols, ch % cols)

    ''' Calculate number of moves to get to ch's position '''
    moves = (newPos[0] - currentPos[0], newPos[1] - currentPos[1])

    if moves[0] < 0:
      commands += ['U'] * -moves[0]

    elif moves[0] > 0:
      commands += ['D'] * moves[0]

    if moves[1] < 0:
      commands += ['L'] * -moves[1]

    elif moves[1] > 0:
      commands += ['R'] * moves[1]

    if commands:
      commands += ['E']

    currentPos = newPos

  return ','.join(commands)

print(wordToCommands('cars', 5))
print(wordToCommands('help', 5))