note kapper The following code will output <I>Ruby is a great language!</I> <CODE> a="Perl" def a.+ other "Ruby"+other end a+=" is a great language!\n" </CODE> So, ruby does actually allow you to extend and redefine it's built-classes.. the example also works if you define a new class which inherits String, instead of using singleton style inheritance.. I have not however tested this with every built-in class, but those I have tried it with, worked fine!<BR> <BR> <I>Or am I just confusing it with that so-called OO language being hyped by Sun? {grin} </I><BR> He he... probably... I have had alot of beginners getting really confused over the hybrid style of Java... 37970 38688