diff --git a/doc/PLFORTH.md b/doc/PLFORTH.md
index 91f0db3..9355067 100644
--- a/doc/PLFORTH.md
+++ b/doc/PLFORTH.md
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ While running code, `<CTRL-C>` will break out and return to the interpreter.
 
 `PLASMA zzzz`: Create word `zzzz` with code address from `LOOKUP`
 
-### Word to run a script:
+### Words to run a script:
 
 `SRC`: Source filename on stack as input. Can be nested
 
@@ -61,12 +61,16 @@ While running code, `<CTRL-C>` will break out and return to the interpreter.
 
 `ENDSRC`: End sourcing file as input if stack flag non-zero
 
-### Word for compiler modes:
+### Words for compiler modes:
 
 `PBC`: Compile into PLASMA Byte Code
 
 `ITC`: Compile into Indirect Threaded Code
 
+### Word for converting string to number:
+
+`?NUM`: Convert string and length to number, returning number and valid flag
+
 ## Debugging vs Performance
 
 PLFORTH defaults to compiling using ITC (Indirect Threaded Code). This supports a list of inspection and debugging features while developing programs and scripts. However, the compiler can easily switch to PBC (PLASMA Byte Code) to greatly improve performance, but most of the debugging tools are lost. ITC compiled words and PBC compiled words can be intermingled and call each other seemlessly. PLASMA Byte Code is a direct match to many low-level FORTH constructs.
diff --git a/images/apple/PLFORTH.PO b/images/apple/PLFORTH.PO
index 1aa1a76..770661e 100755
Binary files a/images/apple/PLFORTH.PO and b/images/apple/PLFORTH.PO differ
diff --git a/src/toolsrc/plforth.pla b/src/toolsrc/plforth.pla
index abd9bbf..fb516c9 100644
--- a/src/toolsrc/plforth.pla
+++ b/src/toolsrc/plforth.pla
@@ -111,8 +111,8 @@ predef _componly_#0, _interponly_#0, _immediate_#0, _exit_#0, _pad_#1, _trailing
 predef _tors_(a)#0, _fromrs_#1, _toprs_#1, _lookup_#1
 predef _move_(a,b,c)#0, _fill_(a,b,c)#0, _plasma_(a)#0
 predef _var_(a)#0, _const_(a)#0, _lit_#1, _slit_#1, _find_(a)#2
-predef _tick_#1, _comptick_#0, _forget_#0, _terminal_#1, _prat_(a)#0
-predef _char_#0, _str_#0, _prstr_#0, _prpstr_#0
+predef _tick_#0, _forget_#0, _terminal_#1, _prat_(a)#0
+predef _blank_#0, _char_#0, _str_#0, _prstr_#0, _prpstr_#0
 predef _prval_(a)#0, _prbyte_(a)#0, _prhex_(a)#0
 predef _accept_(a,b)#1, _query_#0, _expect_(a,b)#0, _type_(a,b)#0
 predef _vlist_#0, _tron_#0, _troff_#0, _stepon_#0, _stepoff_#0
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ predef _brk_#0, _brkon_#0, _brkoff_#0, _word_(a)#1, _count_(a)#2
 predef _space_#0, _spaces_(a)#0, _show_#0, _showstack_#0, _showrstack_#0
 predef _cont_#0, _exitforth_#0, _bye_#0, _quit_#0
 predef _abort_(a)#0, _doabortstr_(a,b)#0, _abortstr_#0
-predef compword(dentry)#0, execword(dentry)#0
+predef compword(dentry)#0, execword(dentry)#0, isnum(a,b)#2
 // DROP
 char d_drop = "DROP"
 byte = inline_flag
@@ -492,12 +492,8 @@ byte = 0
 word = @d_count, 0, @_find_
 // TICK
 char d_tick = "'"
-byte = interponly_flag
+byte = imm_flag
 word = @d_find, 0, @_tick_
-// COMPILED TICK
-char d_comptick = "[']"
-byte = imm_flag | componly_flag
-word = @d_tick, 0, @_comptick_
 // INLINE LITERAL NUMBER ( not in vocabulary )
 char d_lit = "LIT"
 byte = param_flag
@@ -505,7 +501,7 @@ word = 0, 0, @_lit_
 // COMPILED LITERAL VALUE FROM STACK
 char d_literal = "LITERAL"
 byte = imm_flag
-word = @d_comptick, 0, @_literal_
+word = @d_tick, 0, @_literal_
 // ?TERMINAL
 char d_terminal = "?TERMINAL"
 byte = 0
@@ -530,10 +526,14 @@ word = @d_expect, 0, @_accept_
 char d_word = "WORD"
 byte = 0
 word = @d_accept, 0, @_word_
+// ISNUM
+char d_isnum = "?NUM"
+byte = 0
+word = @d_word, 0, @isnum
 // -TRAILING
 char d_trailing = "-TRAILING"
 byte = 0
-word = @d_word, 0, @_trailing_
+word = @d_isnum, 0, @_trailing_
 // PRINT @TOS
 char d_prat = "?"
 byte = 0
@@ -570,10 +570,14 @@ word = @d_space, 0, @_spaces_
 char d_type = "TYPE"
 byte = 0
 word = @d_spaces, 0, @_type_
+// BLANK
+char d_blank = "BL"
+byte = imm_flag
+word = @d_type, 0, @_blank_
 // CHAR
 char d_char = "CHAR"
 byte = imm_flag
-word = @d_type, 0, @_char_
+word = @d_blank, 0, @_char_
 // STRING
 char d_str = "\""
 byte = imm_flag
@@ -1385,8 +1389,7 @@ def _compile_#0
   if dentry
     compword(dentry)
   else
-    puts(dentry)
-    puts(" not found\n")
+    puts("No match\n")
     _quit_
   fin
 end
@@ -1589,11 +1592,20 @@ def _find_(a)#2
   fin
   return a, 0
 end
-def _tick_#1
-  return find(nextword(' '))
-end
-def _comptick_#0
-  compliteral(find(nextword(' ')))
+def _tick_#0
+  word dentry
+
+  dentry = find(nextword(' '))
+  if dentry
+    if state & comp_flag
+      compliteral(dentry)
+    else
+      (@push)(dentry)#0
+    fin
+  else
+    puts("No match\n")
+    _quit_
+  fin
 end
 def _forget_#0
   word dentry
@@ -1608,6 +1620,9 @@ def _forget_#0
     fin
     heaprelease(dentry)
     buildhashtbl
+  else
+    puts("No match\n")
+    _quit_
   fin
 end
 def _query_#0
@@ -1679,6 +1694,13 @@ end
 def _prat_(a)#0
   puti(*a); putc(' ')
 end
+def _blank_#0
+  if state & comp_flag
+    compliteral(32)
+  else
+    (@push)(32)#0
+  fin
+end
 def _char_#0
   word str
   byte len