> For instance, how long do you suppose it would take a beginner to
> come up with the following extremely-useful code fragments without
> ever having seen them used in someone else's code?

How about this one [figure out what it does yourself :-)]

        movf    Num1,w
        movwf   Result

        movf    Num2,w
        subwf   Result,w
        btfss   C
         subwf  Result,f

        movf    Num3,w
        subwf   Result,w
        btfss   C
         subwf  Result,f

Anyone know of any smaller way?