why not have a config file with two more entries - an escape (eg ^ for Windows) and a pathname seperator - avoid building them in by always using lookup values for external use. Frances Coakley Senior Tutor, Rm 18BB02, Dept Elec Eng; University of Surrey, GUILDFORD, GU2 7XH, UK Tel +(0)1483 879129 email f.coakley@eim.surrey.ac.ukReceived on Fri Mar 1 15:38:33 2002