Shannon Fang <xrfang / hotmail.com> wrote: > As a dynamic language, Ruby is much more flexible and easier than other > language I use, for example, Delphi. However, there is a "intrinsic" problem > in ruby programming -- a typical error I get again and again: > > private method `split' called for nil:NilClass > > The following statement: > > array.pop.split(',') > > will generate this error if array is empty. If my goal is that I just want skip the step if it can't be done, I like this kind of thing: array.pop.split(',') if array.last If array itself could be nil then I have to add: puts array.pop.split(',') if array and array.last m. -- matt neuburg, phd = matt / tidbits.com, http://www.tidbits.com/matt/ Tiger - http://www.takecontrolbooks.com/tiger-customizing.html AppleScript - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0596102119 Read TidBITS! It's free and smart. http://www.tidbits.com