this really isn't Alpha specific, but maybe someone could clue me in. why might this _always_ evaluate the if and never touch the else: if [ $(($#<1)) ] then multiple lines of code else multiple lines of code fi ---- Dave Wiard Computer Science davew@wcug.wwu.edu Western Washington University http://www.wcug.wwu.edu/~davew The light that burns twice as bright burns half as long.