Sending dynamic data through JQuery Ajax

Sending dynamic data through JQuery Ajax

Hi All,
I've got a question about the processing of data through and Ajax Post Request which i can't get a hold of. Hopefully you guys can help me out.
I have the following situation.
An anchor is my script triggers the following javascript function:
  1. <a href="#fragment-3" onclick="return drawResource();"><span>Resources</span></a>
I have the following function
  1. function drawResource(url) {
    $.ajax({url: "resource.asp",
    type: "POST",
    dataType: "html",
    cache: false,
    data: {period:201209},
    success: function(responseData) {
    alert(responseData);
    }
    });
    }









The requested asp file looks like this.
  1. <%
    dim z
    z = Request.Form("period")
    response.write "z = " & z
    %>



Until this this works fine. My next step is to make the "data: {period:201209}," dynamic. So i tried testing it like this:
  1. function drawResource(url) {
    datatosend = "{period:201209}";
    $.ajax({url: "resource.asp",
    type: "POST",
    dataType: "html",
    cache: false,
    data: datatosend,
    success: function(responseData) {
    alert(responseData);
    }
    });
    }










which fails....
I i ran i trough Firebug i see a remarkable difference.
in the first case i see this:

and in the 2nd case i see this:


Looks like in the 2nd case my variable datatosend is interpretated as JSON data to send, while in the 1st case it comes over as a String. Is there anyone that can help me out getting the 2nd option to work?

Edit:
in the 1st case response is z = 201209 in the second case response is z =