function a($, optional $k,$e,$m)
    $k=$k+$<' '
    $m=' ','  '
    $e=$<!
    while $
        dim $c,$n,$x
        $x=asc($)
        $n=128
        while $n
            $c=$c+iif($e,$n*(($k^$<' ')&$>),$m[$k^$x/$n])
            $x=$x-$n*($x/$n)
            $n=$n/2
            $=iif($e|$n=0,right($,~),$)
        loop
        $a=$a+iif($e,chr($c),$c+iif($,@,$m[$k]))
endfunction