Is there a problem with setting the input line delimiter to something like: $/ = "\x0D\x0D\x0A\x0A\x0A\x0A\x0A*\x0D\x0A {38}"; (don't work) When I put the * in there I get a freeze (7500/100 w/7.5.3 rev 2.0) without the * the script works fine. my original line delimiter was: $/ = "\x0D\x0D\x0A\x0A\x0A\x0A\x0A\x0A\x0A\x0D\x0A {38}"; (worked) but I found a particular instance where one record is short some linefeeds. andyk@teleport.com || andy@illuminatus.com ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Macintosh Stuff http://www.macpac.com Fab Netscape HTTP Cookie Info http://www.illuminatus.com/cookie ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Laugh while you can monkey boy