Greetings
This idea, combined with keeping the information in the database is what I shall do. I will store the filename and directory after processing, in the table and use auto-commit.
The download portion has already been completed, so don't have to worry about that.
I will still have to rewalk the directory tree but the restart will only have to check directory name to find out if it is in the right place. This is necessary (I'm pretty sure), to avoid bypassing unfinished nodes in the directory walk.
Thanks one and all for your input, I have made my decision, and as always, it is a better one than when I started thanks to Perl Monks!
Largins