This is true - anyone with basic perl knowledge can look at the script and workout how to pull out the original info. I am not after total security but only want to stop anyone cat'ing out the file. Other ideas I have had are using the perlapp ( active perl ) to produce a stand alone executable and embeding the rule file within the script or running the whole thing from a web server so the script in question is not directly accessable ( other than by web master ). Thanks for you reply.