The present invention is a vibratory distribution system which utilizes a metering gate assembly useful for selectively passing and diverting articles from a stream of articles to either or both a downstream conveyor or a cross conveyor. The method includes exposing a translucent or transparent material to light emitted from a light source. An advancing mechanism is received in the magazine housing, and is configured to advance a strip of collated fasteners into position to be driven by the power tool. The security operation may, for example, comprise generating a message digest utilizing a SHA andor modifying a stored value based on an amount of code being executed.