Opps - on the comment in the above code snippet ....

is:
' take 4*65536+55296 = 4*(65000+536)+55296 = 4*65000+4*536+55296
' the 4*65000 term does not contribute to the low 3 digits so leave it out

was:
' take 4*65536+55296 = 4*(6200+536)+55296 = 4*62000+4*536+55296
' the 4*62000 term does not contribute to the low 3 digits so leave it out


I need more coffee - paul