note stephen [perlfunc:sort|sort] doesn't sort a list in-place. Instead, it returns a new sorted list. So: <code> foreach (sort @$outputRef) { print $_, "\n"; } </code> would print out a sorted list, but printing the contents of $outputRef would still print out an unsorted list.</p> <p> If you need to save the sorted list for some reason, use an assignment: <code> @sorted = sort @$outputRef; </code> <p> stephen </p> <b>Note:</b> Code untested, my Perlboxen are still in pieces... 181957 181957