i to have been using this: $str =~ s/\n\n/

/g; to format text going into a flat file db. obviously to keep a new line from being written to the db that would cause the entry to skip. but strange thing, it keeps the entry from going to a new line like i wanted yet it puts a "square (new line character)" before the "

" in the entry. for the life of me, i cant figure out why. any suggestions? thanks much. tdidy