Issue when converting between multiple data types

--- Quote Start ---

Agree. Worth trying once and see what the RTL looks like.

--- Quote End ---

I believe it unrolls the loop. I will try it now

Edit:

I have this so far but I get an error that bit_location is not a natural type:

output <= (others => '0');
for i in 0 to 31 loop 
bit_location <= i - unsigned(lsb);
if (i >= unsigned(lsb)) AND (i <= unsigned(msbd)) then 
output(bit_location) <= bit_field(i);
end if;
end loop;

Edit2:

I also tried this but its the same error:

for i in 0 to 31 loop 
bit_location <= i + unsigned(lsb);
if (bit_location >= unsigned(lsb)) AND (bit_location <= unsigned(msbd)) then 
output(i) <= bit_field(bit_location);
end if;
end loop;