hmm...
this starts to look little like my udf
anyways...
264 evolution:
Code:

Function m($)

Dim $a,$b,$d
$a=".:__|"
If $=$+0
Do
$d = $ mod 20
If $d=0
$m="-"+$m
Endif
$b=5
while $b
While $d/$b
$m=substr($a,$b,1)+$m
$d=$d-$b
Loop
$b=$b/2
loop

$ = $/20
If $
$m = " " + $m
EndIf
Until $=0
Else
For Each $ in Split($)
$d=0
For $b = 1 to Len($)
$d=$d+instr($a,SubStr($,$b,1))
Next
$m=$m*20+$d
EndFunction