Along the same lines of what halley had to say in his reply I once solved that problem by using an algorithm described in the following psuedocode:

open file for reading
slurp in file into a scalar
close file
calculate the MD5 of slurp buffer
wait X seconds
open file for reading
slurp into second scalar 
close file
calculate MD5 of second slurp buffer
compare and repeat if not equal.
[download]

Another scheme I have used in the past is to let the FTP client that is putting the files into the directory bit-twiddle the permission bits so that when the client is done copying the permission bits are of some pre-agreed upon value, (444 being my favorite) and then opening the file.

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Peter L. Berghold -- Unix Professional Peter at Berghold dot Net
	Dog trainer, dog agility exhibitor, brewer of fine Belgian style ales. Happiness is a warm, tired, contented dog curled up at your side and a good Belgian ale in your chalice.

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