note BrowserUk <blockquote><i></i></blockquote> <p>Running your routine on 7 files of 200,000 lines apiece (with limit = 1000), takes just 10.5 seconds; and on 100x 200,000 lines takes 145 seconds on my machine. <p>Showing (as expected) that the runtime is pretty linear with respect to the number of files. <P>Which make your figures (of 40s for 7 and 1500s for 100) suggest that the majority of time is being spent outside of this routine doing something non linear. <div class="pmsig"><div class="pmsig-171588"> <hr /> <font size=1 > <div>With the rise and rise of 'Social' network sites: 'Computers are making people easier to use everyday'</div> <div>Examine what is said, not who speaks -- Silence betokens consent -- Love the truth but pardon error.</div> <div>"Science is about questioning the status quo. Questioning authority". </div> <div>In the absence of evidence, opinion is indistinguishable from prejudice. <p align=right> [http://thebottomline.cpaaustralia.com.au/|RIP Neil Armstrong]</p></div> </font> </div></div> 1001087 1001087