Thanks for taking the time to reply to my misguided questions!

Sadly, I feel my poor communication skills have wasted your efforts to help me improve... so if you don't mind, would you please take a look at my question again in the light of the possibility that

• I may not have such an unsalvageable mess as you imagine,
• I do have cooperation from my sysadmin department,
• the people in my company do cooperate, and
• my Perl tool development efforts are fully supported by policy?

How would your answer change? In a more perfect world than I communicated, what technique in Perl would you use to help administer a live production environment where changes may have to be quickly developed, tested and brought on-line while other parts of the whole may be in use. What in your wisom is the perfect organized environment for doing what you suggest?

Nearly everyone who sacrificed to give me help also worshipped your opinion... I would feel horrible if I had to live knowing I had missed the mark so far in your eyes.

The fact that no one pointed me to an already existing node which duplicates this querry gives me hope that perhaps this question is worthy of discussion. Most likely your attention to this lack will help many future initiates like myself cross the span over a safer bridge.

Forgive me for not again providing the details you require to give a useful answer- just say so and I'll provide you more.

(If this thread is still too general don't bother yourself over my inquiry).

Thanks again in advance