Stefan: > ... don't forget the code blocks ... and the smile that creeps on your face > when your solution is not only working, but also elegant, nay, beautiful .-) That's exactly what I'm looking for... and why I'm pausing to examine Ruby seriously. I liked it when I first saw it, then I let it collect dust for a while, and now I'm revisiting it with the intent to use it on a real project. Sincerely, Bob Calco