user cat2014 And here's my list of things to help debug your perl scripts: <ul> <li> always use -w <li> always run with use strict <li> [id://1175|Data::Dumper] is your friend if you think that what's getting stored in your variables is not what you expect it to be. stick a print Dumper($variable); before and after the point where you think that your problem is. <li> if you think that the flow of your program is messed up, use the [id://1322|perl debugger]: perl -d <li> try typing up an email to explain the problem to a friend. a lot of time, in the process of typing out an explanation, you'll find an assumption that you were making is incorrect </ul> what do you call the plural of a perlmonk? here's a list from the CB the other night: <ul> <li> a .. of monks <li>a LoL of monks <li>a hash of monks <li>a glob of monks <li>a pod of perlmonks <li>a hack of monks <li>a funk of monks <li>a package of monks <li>a pack of perlmonks <li>a gaggle of perlmonks <li>a conflict of monks <li>a flock of monks <li>school o' monks <li>module of monks <li>a Pack of JAPH's <li>an array of perlmonks </ul> (with thanks to [chipmunk], [ichimunki], [ybiC], [boo_radley], [tilly], [Petruchio], [Trinary], & [merlyn], [a], [crazyinsomniac]) (/msg me with complaints or additions to the list)    2012-07-20 23:31:05 457 358948 images/userincoming/cat2014.gif 39 new jersey -8 on