note George_Sherston Thanks very much for that. Alas, when I run it on my machine I get the same problem. My output is: <code> 1..13 ok 1 - user 1 added ok 2 - user 2 added ok 3 - user 3 added ok 4 - user 4 added ok 5 - user 5 added ok 6 - user 6 added ok 7 - password for user3 changed ok 8 - user 1 still valid ok 9 - user 2 still valid ok 10 - user 3 still valid not ok 11 - user 4 still valid # Failed test (ht.pl at line 33) ok 12 - user 5 still valid ok 13 - user 6 still valid # Looks like you failed 1 tests of 13. </code> Also, when I comment out your last line and then examine the password file itself I find <code> user1:htcxz2m4/W7uI user2:htAJmEn5bZEr2 user3:htw0q0ujGkzis:user4:htp108GVoN87g user5:htntqB2/z6ld6 user6:htF9EduYYp1o6 </code> ... which is the same prob I got before. Perhaps it's a version problem. I have Apache::Htpasswd v 1.5 and Test::More v 0.33. Also, I don't have method <code>diag</code>, which I'm substituting with <code>die</code> - this in itself wouldn't account for why it's not working for me, but might point to the difficulty. Except, I am guessing <code>diag</code> is a Test::More method? insta-update..Aha! It *was* a version problem. I installed v 1.5.5 and now get the right result from your script... and I doubt not, also from the script that was giving me trouble... insta-update 2Yes! It works now. Thanks very much - I'm most grateful. § <A HREF="http://www.sprogress.com">George Sherston</A> 207944 207963