note sfink I always run into the problem of the default case when I use that -- what if $function isn't a key in %functions? The error message "Undefined subroutine &main:: called" can be very difficult to figure out. <p> And the straightforward fix isn't all that pretty: <code> ($functions{$function} || $functions{default})->(); </code> But I admit that I still use it. With comments, if there is any chance that someone with a capacity to do me bodily harm might read the code. 567774 567974