Adam Akhtar wrote: > err on a similiar note if i have a hash like the one above and i do this > > temp = template > > if i then modify temp say using temp.insert() > > will it also modify the hash? Yes, it will. If you don't want that, do: temp = template.dup HTH, Sebastian -- Jabber: sepp2k / jabber.org ICQ: 205544826