> >As I hinted in the subject of this message, I suspect that the while loop
> >compiles incorrectly. The loop check compiles as follows:
> >MOVLR  00h
> >MOVFP  27,WREG                  ; get c
> >BTFSC  ALUSTA,2                 ; zero?
> >GOTO   0089h                    ; skip
> >The code can be seen in context in the list file portion below.  The
> >problem is that the MOVFP instruction does not modify the flags,  and the
> >loop terminates only later once the zero (terminating) character has
> >already been displayed!!!

My guess is that the programmer who wrote the compiler read note 3 under
"Appendix B: Compatibility" [page 13-165 in my copy of the 96/97 PIC16/17
Microcontroller Data Book].  That note reads, simply:

3. Replace:
        MOVF    REG1, W
   with:
        MOVFP   REG1, WREG

Until seeing your post, I incorrectly thought it was MOVFP rather than MOVPF
which affects the zero flag; it turns out to be the other way 'round.  Perhaps
Microchip can note that in the next copy of the data book?  That same bug
could easily have bitten me.  [I've already been bitten by "incf" affecting
the CARRY flag...]