>>>>> "Andy" == Andy Parkins <andyparkins@xxxxxxxxx> writes: Andy> fd_old = open( "someexistingfile" ); Andy> unlink( "someexistingfile" ); Andy> fd_new = open( "someexistingfile" ); This is dangerous if the process aborts suddenly. Might be better to do this: mumble_command < thefile > thefile.$$ mv thefile.$$ thefile The second move will be atomic. The only problem will be if the process aborts, which will leave stale temp files around. -- Randal L. Schwartz - Stonehenge Consulting Services, Inc. - +1 503 777 0095 <merlyn@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> <URL:http://www.stonehenge.com/merlyn/> Perl/Unix/security consulting, Technical writing, Comedy, etc. etc. See PerlTraining.Stonehenge.com for onsite and open-enrollment Perl training! - To unsubscribe from this list: send the line "unsubscribe git" in the body of a message to majordomo@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx More majordomo info at http://vger.kernel.org/majordomo-info.html