yeah that is def something i am going to have to learn, array of array and hash of arrays. but the reason i did it like that was i needed to make sure the files found in dev_flash folder would be compared to all the filenames in files of the temp folder and logically that is what i worked out in my primitive brain lol. i do see your logic tho and i must learn how to use array of array. that initially was my first guess, but ofcourse i did not know much about it or how to use them so i made that script to write the loops for me and then copy pasta the code lol. and thanks for yoru input, this is exactly what i want (and to be lazy also lol), something to reflect on and learn. your examples uses the data i am working with so it makes it a little clearer to me. that might sound crazy to some but it does make it easier for me to understand lol. and thanks for yoru time and input sir :)