I wasn't offended, it's just that I generally really appreciate your opinion, and was surprised when I read your post. All I'm saying is that I don't see a problem in using shell scripts to solve simple tasks (like this one). I'd be the last person (well I'm actually not sure ;^D) who would want to write a physical simulation, a compiler or a browser in shell script, since it obviously the shell isn't the right tool for the task. To quote the Master Foo:

Quote:“There is more Unix-nature in one line of shell script than there is in ten thousand lines of C.”