> Here's the code:
> ####################################################
> i = 0
> while true do
>    i += 1
>    puts i
>          rptFile = "CYPsw00695.rpt" #a 190K text file
>          srchStr = "/Error/"  
>          rpt_h = File.open rptFile
>          puts "after File.open #{rptFile}" if $DEBUG
>          puts "srchStr is: #{srchStr}" if $DEBUG
>          while rpt_h.gets do
>            #puts "while: #$_" if $DEBUG
>            if eval srchStr

I wonder if eval is causing you problems?  It is probably
slowing you down at least.  Can you do something like:
  
srchStr = "Error|Blah"    
while line = gets
  if line =~ /#{srchStr}/
    puts line
  end
end

regards,
-joe