I guess my confusion is in the result. I was expecting it to be <em>more</em> different than the original if that makes sense. I guess it really is since using %00001111 on something like %10011101 it does make it different.

So, in your examples all that & $000F is there for is to get rid of ALL other bits except the first four? That's how it is used in this project, but & could have other uses besides "bit stripping"?

In fact, this could also be used for my case of only wanting a "0" or a "1" by making it $0001 or %00000001

<b>%0001101101011011</b>
<b>%0000000000000001</b>
<b>%0000000000000001</b> results

Decimal: 1

<b>%0001101101011010</b>
<b>%0000000000000001</b>
<b>%0000000000000000</b> results

Decimal: 0

I'm getting ideas....

The even/odd still has me puzzled, but I will need to read the thread again now and see if it makes more sense.

Thanks,

Bart