Newbie = Extracting Bits

[rwskinner]

How do I go about extract bits from a int16
Example
int16 Msg

MyID is the first 3 bits on the left
FirstVal is the next 5 bits
2nd val is the next 4 bits
3rd val is the next 4 bits

and so on ....

Could I define a struct with the proper bits like this

struct myrec {
int8 myid :3;
int8 firstval :5;
int8 secval : 4;
int8 thirdval : 4;
};

myrec = mymsg;

Will that load the proper fileds with the proper bits?
If not how is the best way to do it?

THX

[rwskinner]

Nevermind, I wrote a function that took the starting bit and the number of bits and shifted them till I got what I needed.