Thanks for the clarification Firo.

So far, I can use the +/- info by doing two checks: first if my value is > or < 0 (ie plus or minus), and then I do a bit check. In my application, this is the way I control whetehr an item is being put on or off: if the bit is +, then that item is added; if -, then subtracted.

So far, It seems I can't do a direct bitwise check for -1. I'll experiement a little with the bits and see what kind of control I can wrangle out of them. Want to see if I can use the decimal places in the same way as the main places.