tachyon, this is great thank you! But I am still trying to understand this. Where do I want to set this up at, in my MAIN program where the file is created or in the subroutine file where the actual work is to be done? Here are some specific questions: how does the calling program ( call the remote files subrouting) know based off your use vars? Is there a mored detailed man page I can read and maybe I will answer my own questions! thanks derek