diff --git a/application.py b/application.py
index 463bf53..6641381 100755
--- a/application.py
+++ b/application.py
@@ -796,7 +796,10 @@ class Application(object):
             rstrs = w.mode.get_header()
             assert len(rstrs) >= w.mode.header
             for j in range(0, w.mode.header):
-                rstrs[j].draw(self.win, slot.y_offset + j, slot.x_offset, slot.width)
+                k = 0
+                for rstr in rstrs[j]:
+                    rstr.draw(self.win, slot.y_offset + j, slot.x_offset + k, slot.width)
+                    k += len(rstr.string)
 
         # draw the actual slot
         self._draw_slot(i)
diff --git a/mode/__init__.py b/mode/__init__.py
index 8583030..44d90d3 100644
--- a/mode/__init__.py
+++ b/mode/__init__.py
@@ -332,9 +332,9 @@ class Fundamental(Handler):
 
         if self.tabber is None:
             s = "Header support is not available for this mode"
-            hs = [RenderString(s=s, attrs=color.build(fg, bg))]
+            hs = [[RenderString(s=s, attrs=color.build(fg, bg))]]
             while len(hs) < 3:
-                hs.insert(0, RenderString(s='', attrs=color.build(fg, bg)))
+                hs.insert(0, [RenderString(s='', attrs=color.build(fg, bg))])
             return hs
 
         w = self.window
@@ -358,14 +358,14 @@ class Fundamental(Handler):
             if ws and marker.level > ws:
                 continue
             s = w.buffer.lines[marker.y][:w.width - 1]
-            hs.insert(0, RenderString(s=s, attrs=color.build(fg, bg)))
+            hs.insert(0, [RenderString(s=s, attrs=color.build(fg, bg))])
         while len(hs) < 3:
-            hs.insert(0, RenderString(s='', attrs=color.build(fg, bg)))
+            hs.insert(0, [RenderString(s='', attrs=color.build(fg, bg))])
         return hs
 
     def get_footer(self):
         fg, bg = "default", "red"
-        return [RenderString(s='footer', attrs=color.build(fg, bg))]
+        return [[RenderString(s='footer', attrs=color.build(fg, bg))]]
     def get_rmargin(self, w, y, x, ended=False, cont=False):
         c, fg, bg = " ", "red", "default"
         if cont:
diff --git a/mode/hex.py b/mode/hex.py
index 8e99666..7925ace 100644
--- a/mode/hex.py
+++ b/mode/hex.py
@@ -162,6 +162,14 @@ class HexToggleSymbolic(Method):
             w.set_error("Symbolic editing enabled")
         else:
             w.set_error("Symbolic editing disabled")
+class HexLiteral(Method):
+    def _execute(self, w, **vargs):
+        w.mode.symbolic_edit = False
+        w.set_error("Symbolic editing disabled")
+class HexSymbolic(Method):
+    def _execute(self, w, **vargs):
+        w.mode.symbolic_edit = True
+        w.set_error("Symbolic editing enabled")
 
 class ShowX86Instruction(Method):
     ''''''
@@ -228,16 +236,37 @@ class Hex(mode.Fundamental):
     ctrans = ''.join(_ctrans)
     actions = [HexForward, HexBackward, HexForwardWord, HexBackwardWord,
                HexStartOfLine, HexEndOfLine, ShowAddress, ShowX86Instruction,
-               GotoAddress, HexSetByteOrder, HexToggleSymbolic,
+               GotoAddress, HexSetByteOrder, HexToggleSymbolic, HexSymbolic, HexLiteral,
                HexOverwriteCharSpace, HexOverwriteCharTab,
                HexOverwriteCharNewline, HexGotoBeginning, HexGotoEnd]
 
     header      = 1
     header_size = 1
+    hlo = color.build('red', 'default')
+    hhi = color.build('default', 'red')
+    format = "%(flag)s  %(bname)-18s  (%(mname)s)  {%(symbolic)s}  %(cursor)s  %(perc)s"
+
+    def get_status_names(self):
+        names = mode.Fundamental.get_status_names(self)
+        if self.symbolic_edit:
+            names['symbolic'] = 'symbolic'
+        else:
+            names['symbolic'] = 'literal'
+        return names
+
     def get_header(self):
-        s = '  87654321  00 11 22 33 44 55 66 77  88 99 aa bb cc dd ee ff' \
-            '%*s0123456789abcdef  ' % (self.window.width - 48, '')
-        return [RenderString(s=s, attrs=color.build('red', 'default'))]
+        s0 = '  87654321  '
+        s1 = '00 11 22 33 44 55 66 77  88 99 aa bb cc dd ee ff'
+        s2 = ' ' * (self.window.width - 48)
+        s3 = '0123456789abcdef  '
+
+        def lo(s): return RenderString(s=s, attrs=self.hlo)
+        def hi(s): return RenderString(s=s, attrs=self.hhi)
+
+        if self.symbolic_edit:
+            return [[lo(s0), lo(s1), lo(s2), hi(s3)]]
+        else:
+            return [[lo(s0), hi(s1), lo(s2), lo(s3)]]
 
     def __init__(self, w):
         mode.Fundamental.__init__(self, w)
diff --git a/mode/python.py b/mode/python.py
index c6881b4..475a373 100644
--- a/mode/python.py
+++ b/mode/python.py
@@ -584,9 +584,9 @@ class Python(mode.Fundamental):
 
         if self.tabber is None:
             s = "Header support is not available for this mode"
-            hs = [RenderString(s=s, attrs=color.build(fg, bg))]
+            hs = [[RenderString(s=s, attrs=color.build(fg, bg))]]
             while len(hs) < 3:
-                hs.insert(0, RenderString(s='', attrs=color.build(fg, bg)))
+                hs.insert(0, [RenderString(s='', attrs=color.build(fg, bg))])
             return hs
 
         w = self.window
@@ -610,9 +610,9 @@ class Python(mode.Fundamental):
             if ws and marker.level > ws:
                 continue
             s = w.buffer.lines[marker.y][:w.width - 1]
-            hs.insert(0, RenderString(s=s, attrs=color.build(fg, bg)))
+            hs.insert(0, [RenderString(s=s, attrs=color.build(fg, bg))])
         while len(hs) < 3:
-            hs.insert(0, RenderString(s='', attrs=color.build(fg, bg)))
+            hs.insert(0, [RenderString(s='', attrs=color.build(fg, bg))])
         return hs
 
     def __init__(self, w):