I'm having so much trouble with this. I don't know why, but the data segment approach I can't get it to work at all. with the EQU approach, its also not very smooth.
Here, this is what I need it to do, maybe someone can give me some code?

Define variables with values in them. for instance, 8 bytes.
similar to var1: db 1h,2h,3h,4h.... but that can be changed during program.

R0 or whatever is set to the beginning location of the variable(for function below to use).
program calls the function below:

funciton:
copy content of first bit to A,
if A is 0, quit function,
call another function(it will use A),
get content of second bit,
shift A to the left,
save new A to second bit position,
call another function(it will use A),
loop (for bits three and four, then again for 5,6.. and so on, till A = 0),
ret,


It seems pretty simple, but i've tried it so many times, but can't get it to work. I think my problem is with getting the variables, specially from registers and to accum and back, to have the right values in it.

I'm a beginner to 8051 asm, but i'm learning.
Again, thanks to all of you for helping me out.