One alternative approach is to watch the log of the FTP server to see if the transfer has completed. This would require clever use of File::Tail and possibly the Net::FTPServer::XferLog modules.

The net result of this would be an event-driven methodology (dostuff() to a file when it is transfered in) as opposed to the polling methodology that you're using now.

Not that there's anything wrong with polling. As I say, it's just an alternative. Frankly, I'd be more inclined to do as you are, with the modifications suggested by Weasle.

Hope this helps!

--jwest

-><- -><- -><- -><- -><-
All things are Perfect
    To every last Flaw
    And bound in accord
         With Eris's Law
 - HBT; The Book of Advice, 1:7