diff --git a/src/Makefile b/src/Makefile
index a8c1152..426488a 100644
--- a/src/Makefile
+++ b/src/Makefile
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ encoding.o: config.h alu.h acme.h dynabuf.h global.h output.h input.h tree.h enc
 
 flow.o: config.h acme.h alu.h dynabuf.h global.h input.h mnemo.h symbol.h tree.h flow.h flow.c
 
-global.o: config.h platform.h acme.h cpu.h input.h macro.h pseudoopcodes.h section.h symbol.h global.h global.c
+global.o: config.h platform.h acme.h cpu.h encoding.h input.h macro.h pseudoopcodes.h section.h symbol.h global.h global.c
 
 input.o: config.h alu.h dynabuf.h global.h section.h symbol.h tree.h input.h input.c
 
diff --git a/src/Makefile.dos b/src/Makefile.dos
index 7cf90af..3ac7b96 100644
--- a/src/Makefile.dos
+++ b/src/Makefile.dos
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ encoding.o: config.h alu.h acme.h dynabuf.h global.h output.h input.h tree.h enc
 
 flow.o: config.h acme.h alu.h dynabuf.h global.h input.h mnemo.h symbol.h tree.h flow.h flow.c
 
-global.o: config.h platform.h acme.h cpu.h input.h macro.h pseudoopcodes.h section.h symbol.h global.h global.c
+global.o: config.h platform.h acme.h cpu.h encoding.h input.h macro.h pseudoopcodes.h section.h symbol.h global.h global.c
 
 input.o: config.h alu.h dynabuf.h global.h section.h symbol.h tree.h input.h input.c
 
diff --git a/src/Makefile.mingw b/src/Makefile.mingw
index 83442e2..2a40dac 100644
--- a/src/Makefile.mingw
+++ b/src/Makefile.mingw
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ encoding.o: config.h alu.h acme.h dynabuf.h global.h output.h input.h tree.h enc
 
 flow.o: config.h acme.h alu.h dynabuf.h global.h input.h mnemo.h symbol.h tree.h flow.h flow.c
 
-global.o: config.h platform.h acme.h cpu.h input.h macro.h pseudoopcodes.h section.h symbol.h global.h global.c
+global.o: config.h platform.h acme.h cpu.h encoding.h input.h macro.h pseudoopcodes.h section.h symbol.h global.h global.c
 
 input.o: config.h alu.h dynabuf.h global.h section.h symbol.h tree.h input.h input.c
 
diff --git a/src/Makefile.riscos b/src/Makefile.riscos
index 881a2a1..a34c33e 100644
--- a/src/Makefile.riscos
+++ b/src/Makefile.riscos
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ encoding.o: config.h alu.h acme.h dynabuf.h global.h output.h input.h tree.h enc
 
 flow.o: config.h acme.h alu.h dynabuf.h global.h input.h mnemo.h symbol.h tree.h flow.h flow.c
 
-global.o: config.h platform.h acme.h cpu.h input.h macro.h pseudoopcodes.h section.h symbol.h global.h global.c
+global.o: config.h platform.h acme.h cpu.h encoding.h input.h macro.h pseudoopcodes.h section.h symbol.h global.h global.c
 
 input.o: config.h alu.h dynabuf.h global.h section.h symbol.h tree.h input.h input.c
 
diff --git a/src/alu.c b/src/alu.c
index 22c14ff..9321c3d 100644
--- a/src/alu.c
+++ b/src/alu.c
@@ -155,8 +155,6 @@ static struct op ops_arcsin		= {42, OPGROUP_MONADIC, OPID_ARCSIN,	"arcsin()"	};
 static struct op ops_arccos		= {42, OPGROUP_MONADIC, OPID_ARCCOS,	"arccos()"	};
 static struct op ops_arctan		= {42, OPGROUP_MONADIC, OPID_ARCTAN,	"arctan()"	};
 static struct op ops_len		= {42, OPGROUP_MONADIC, OPID_LEN,	"len()"	};
-// CAUTION: when adding a function that returns something indexable, fix the code inserting ops_atindex!
-// FIXME - no, do this asap because of test program ;)
 
 
 // variables
@@ -2511,6 +2509,9 @@ void ALU_any_result(struct object *result)
 	pseudoopcodes.c
 		!set									don't care
 		when throwing user-specified errors					don't care
+		iterator for !by, !wo, etc.						needvalue!
+		byte values in !raw, !tx, etc.						needvalue!
+		!scrxor									needvalue!
 	symbol.c
 		explicit symbol definition						don't care
 
@@ -2535,9 +2536,6 @@ void ALU_defined_int(struct number *intresult)
 void ALU_any_int(intval_t *target)
 	pseudoopcodes.c
 		!xor									needvalue!
-		iterator for !by, !wo, etc.						needvalue!
-		byte values in !raw, !tx, etc.						needvalue!
-		!scrxor									needvalue!
 		!fill (2nd arg)								needvalue!
 		!align (3rd arg)							needvalue!
 */
diff --git a/src/global.c b/src/global.c
index c859622..b14acbe 100644
--- a/src/global.c
+++ b/src/global.c
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 #include "alu.h"
 #include "cpu.h"
 #include "dynabuf.h"
+#include "encoding.h"
 #include "input.h"
 #include "macro.h"
 #include "output.h"
@@ -473,3 +474,42 @@ void Bug_found(const char *message, int code)
 	fprintf(stderr, "(0x%x:)", code);
 	Throw_serious_error(message);
 }
+
+
+// insert object (in case of list, will iterate/recurse until done)
+void output_object(struct object *object, struct iter_context *iter)
+{
+	struct listitem	*item;
+	int		length;
+	char		*read;
+
+	if (object->type == &type_number) {
+		if (object->u.number.ntype == NUMTYPE_UNDEFINED)
+			iter->fn(0);
+		else if (object->u.number.ntype == NUMTYPE_INT)
+			iter->fn(object->u.number.val.intval);
+		else if (object->u.number.ntype == NUMTYPE_FLOAT)
+			iter->fn(object->u.number.val.fpval);
+		else
+			Bug_found("IllegalNumberType7", object->u.number.ntype);	// FIXME - add to docs!
+	} else if (object->type == &type_list) {
+		// iterate over list
+		item = object->u.listhead->next;
+		while (item != object->u.listhead) {
+			output_object(&item->payload, iter);
+			item = item->next;
+		}
+	} else if (object->type == &type_string) {
+		// iterate over string
+		read = object->u.string->payload;
+		length = object->u.string->length;
+		if (iter->accept_long_strings || (length < 2)) {
+			while (length--)
+				iter->fn(iter->stringxor ^ encoding_encode_char(*(read++)));
+		} else {
+			Throw_error("There's more than one character.");	// see alu.c for the original of this error
+		}
+	} else {
+		Bug_found("IllegalObjectType9", 0);	// FIXME - add to docs!
+	}
+}
diff --git a/src/global.h b/src/global.h
index dee8a78..cc7bec2 100644
--- a/src/global.h
+++ b/src/global.h
@@ -168,6 +168,13 @@ extern void Throw_error(const char *msg);
 extern void Throw_serious_error(const char *msg);
 // handle bugs
 extern void Bug_found(const char *msg, int code);
+// insert object (in case of list, will iterate/recurse until done)
+struct iter_context {
+	void	(*fn)(intval_t);	// output function
+	boolean	accept_long_strings;	// if FALSE, only 1-char-strings work
+	char	stringxor;		// for !scrxor, 0 otherwise
+};
+extern void output_object(struct object *object, struct iter_context *iter);
 
 
 #endif
diff --git a/src/pseudoopcodes.c b/src/pseudoopcodes.c
index 13ea9c1..2a33829 100644
--- a/src/pseudoopcodes.c
+++ b/src/pseudoopcodes.c
@@ -181,11 +181,15 @@ static enum eos po_to(void)
 // helper function for !8, !16, !24 and !32 pseudo opcodes
 static enum eos iterate(void (*fn)(intval_t))
 {
-	intval_t	value;
+	struct iter_context	iter;
+	struct object		object;
 
+	iter.fn = fn;
+	iter.accept_long_strings = FALSE;
+	iter.stringxor = 0;
 	do {
-		ALU_any_int(&value);
-		fn(value);
+		ALU_any_result(&object);
+		output_object(&object, &iter);
 	} while (Input_accept_comma());
 	return ENSURE_EOS;
 }
@@ -381,13 +385,21 @@ static enum eos po_convtab(void)
 static enum eos encode_string(const struct encoder *inner_encoder, char xor)
 {
 	const struct encoder	*outer_encoder	= encoder_current;	// buffer encoder
-	int			offset;
-	intval_t		value;
+	struct iter_context	iter;
+	struct object		object;
 
+	iter.fn = output_8;
+	iter.accept_long_strings = TRUE;
+	iter.stringxor = xor;
 	// make given encoder the current one (for ALU-parsed values)
 	encoder_current = inner_encoder;
 	do {
-		if (GotByte == '"') {	// FIXME - add "&& (config.wanted_version < VER_BACKSLASHESCAPING)", otherwise stuff like "string"[index] will not work
+		// we need to keep the old string handler code, because if user selects
+		// older dialect, the new code will complain about string lengths > 1!
+		if ((GotByte == '"') && (config.wanted_version < VER_BACKSLASHESCAPING)) {
+			// the old way of handling string literals:
+			int	offset;
+
 			DYNABUF_CLEAR(GlobalDynaBuf);
 			if (Input_quoted_to_dynabuf('"'))
 				return SKIP_REMAINDER;	// unterminated or escaping error
@@ -402,14 +414,11 @@ static enum eos encode_string(const struct encoder *inner_encoder, char xor)
 			for (offset = 0; offset < GlobalDynaBuf->size; ++offset)
 				output_8(xor ^ encoding_encode_char(GLOBALDYNABUF_CURRENT[offset]));
 		} else {
-			// Parse value. No problems with single characters
-			// because the current encoding is
-			// temporarily set to the given one.
-			ALU_any_int(&value);
-			output_8(value);
-			// FIXME - call ALU_any_result(FLOAT2INT) instead and support lists and strings:
-			// for lists, call some list_iter() fn to handle components
-			// for strings, do not forget to XOR!
+			// handle everything else (also strings in newer dialects):
+			// parse value. no problems with single characters because the
+			// current encoding is temporarily set to the given one.
+			ALU_any_result(&object);
+			output_object(&object, &iter);
 		}
 	} while (Input_accept_comma());
 	encoder_current = outer_encoder;	// reactivate buffered encoder
@@ -1044,7 +1053,7 @@ static enum eos po_for(void)	// now GotByte = illegal char
 
 	// now GotByte = illegal char
 	loop.force_bit = Input_get_force_bit();	// skips spaces after
-	loop.symbol = symbol_find(scope);	// FIXME - if type is not NULL, complain if not number!
+	loop.symbol = symbol_find(scope);	// if not number, error will be reported on first assignment
 	if (!Input_accept_comma()) {
 		Throw_error(exception_syntax);
 		return SKIP_REMAINDER;
diff --git a/src/version.h b/src/version.h
index 4805c51..823e255 100644
--- a/src/version.h
+++ b/src/version.h
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 
 #define RELEASE		"0.96.5"	// update before release	FIXME
 #define CODENAME	"Fenchurch"	// update before release
-#define CHANGE_DATE	"18 June"	// update before release	FIXME
+#define CHANGE_DATE	"19 June"	// update before release	FIXME
 #define CHANGE_YEAR	"2020"		// update before release
 //#define HOME_PAGE	"http://home.pages.de/~mac_bacon/smorbrod/acme/"
 #define HOME_PAGE	"http://sourceforge.net/p/acme-crossass/"	// FIXME