Hi Gerd, > -BEGIN { > +sub BEGIN { As per Larry Wall's decree BEGIN starts a block, and therefore isn't a sub. One shoudl declare BEGIN { } Not sub BEGIN { } -- albertel@msu.edu BM: n^20 t20 z20 qS Guy Albertelli -7-9-8- O- The next time the universe knocks on my door, I will pretend I am not home.