Thus it was written in the epistle of Curtis Larsen,
> Okay, pardon this dumb question, but my brain has frozen solid for
> today.

Not to worry.  I've been through that.  Often the rush of blood to the face
when I realize what I've done warms the brain enough to thaw it :-).

> According to the extremely ambiguous info, we need to set the 14th
> and/or 15th bits of the VSETNEXTCENTURY JCW in order to enable certain
> VPLUS Y2K behaviors.  (All other bits must be reset.)
>
> How does one do this using the SETJCW command?
>
> I thought it would be "SETJCW VSETNEXTCENTURY WARN", but that doesn't
> work.

For bit 14, I would expect

:SETJCW VSETNEXTCENTURY 2

to work and likewise for bit 15

:SETJCW VSETNEXTCENTURY 1

should do it.  (Of course getting both means setting it to 3).  The bits are
numbered 0 through 15 starting at the left and proceeding rightward.

> 1. Isn't there some sort of binary prefix operator like there is for
> octal and hex?
> "SETJCW VSETNEXTCENTURY B010000000000000" would be pretty nifty.

I don't know.

> 2. WHY in the world was SETTING BITS determined to be a Good Way To Do
> It?
> Wouldn't something like "SETJCW VSETNEXTCENTURY 1" and "SETJCW
> VSETSIGDIGITS 4" be easier to understand?

Because with bit setting, it is obvious how to combine multiple options.  If
you tell me that for one option I should set the JCW to 1 and for another I
should set it to 2, it is not obvious to me that to get both I should set it
to 3.  If, however, you tell me to turn on bits 15 and 14, then I know that I
can turn on both and get both features.

Hoping this helps,
Ted
--
Ted Ashton ([log in to unmask]), Info Serv, Southern Adventist University
          ==========================================================
[The works of Archimedes] are without exception, monuments of mathematical
exposition; the gradual revelation of the plan of attack, the masterly
ordering of the propositions, the stern elimination of everything not
immediately relevant to the purpose, the finish of the whole, are so
impressive in their perfection as to create a feeling akin to awe in the
mind of the reader.
                        -- Heath, Sir Thomas