No, I am using absolute paths. And I have to assume the file is opening since it doesn't die.

I actually have quite a lot of perl experience, this is just such a damned weird problem.

Oooh. I just tried printing $! on it's own and it's last value ( I thought it wouldn't have one if it made it this far in the execution path) is: Not a typewriter

What does that mean?

Clayton --
Clayton aka "Tex"