You could also use macro's to implement the masking approach...

#define TST_BIT_X(addrx,mask) 	(*addrx & mask)
#define SET_BIT_X(addrx,mask)	(*addrx = (*addrx | mask))
#define CLR_BIT_X(addrx,mask) 	(*addrx = (*addrx & ~mask))

or by using a union..

or by using bdata Aliasing ie...

bdata U8 General_flags;

sbit check_menu=General_flags^0;
sbit sound_alarm=General_flags^1;
sbit sound_alarm_ack=General_flags^2;
sbit al_ack=General_flags^3;
sbit UpdateDisplaywithError=General_flags^4;

so you have access at the byte or bit level


Rob.