I did not know require would execute the content of the file.
Think about it: How else could require and use (which is just require wrapped in a BEGIN block, and optionally a call to an import method) load and initialise a perl module? How would module Foo load a module Bar that it depends on, if not by executing use or requrie in Foo when the main program requires or uses Foo?
Alexander
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Today I will gladly share my knowledge and experience, for there are no sweeter words than "I told you so". ;-)