[snip] > argv[] is always available [/snip] As an example you could something like this... $requestedDatabase = $argv[1]; so that foo@commandline:/usr/myApp/whatever php chaFinder.php CHA > output.txt will have $requestedDatabase == 'CHA' [snip] btw if my file names are funky I am too? [/snip] Like a broke neck monkey; re: http://www.bumpcity.com -- PHP General Mailing List (http://www.php.net/) To unsubscribe, visit: http://www.php.net/unsub.php