> > If aFile = File.open("myfile.txt") then why is the syntax for finding out > > the file size > > File.size(aFile) instead of aFile.size? > The class method is there because you don't have to open a file to > determine it's size. In fact, you can find the size of files which you > don't have permission to open. You mean File.stat(name).size right? File.size(name) is pretty much useless except for inciting users to ask for File#size. matju