X-no-Archive:yes For simple, there is ROT-13. The first of 18,400 hits in google has "ROT13 simply "rotates" the alphabet by half its length, ie 13 characters. Hence the name.". So, A becomes N, B becomes O, etc. Of course, any other rotation or offset can be used. A similar search ought to reveal other simple encryption methods. I would think a simple single bitwise shift should would be even more obscure, yet simple enough to accomplish, even in COBOL. I bet someone here knows the correct name for such an encryption. In fact, like ROT13, it should be possible to simple use a lookup table for the allowable characters. Entering "bit shift encrypt" into google, I find http://www.hallogram.com/encryptit/, which lists products along with some explanations for simple encryptions. The second of 8,240 hits is http://cscene.org/CS9/CS9-02.html, and it lists several methods of obfuscation. XOR operations with a key that only you know ought to be fairly challenging to reverse without some time and effort. What I do not find on that page is the fairly simple method of inverting the bits, so ASCII A, decimal 65, bin 01000001, becomes bin 10111110, decimal 190, and a character that my email (OL2K) warns me against sending as is, and which your 700/92 terminal may not care for. Simple to do, simple to undo, but not terribly obvious to the naked eye. All the best, Greg Stigers http://www.cgiusa.com * To join/leave the list, search archives, change list settings, * * etc., please visit http://raven.utc.edu/archives/hp3000-l.html *