Allasso:

While it's true that binmode isn't required on a unix box, nowhere in the OP did you mention unix. Using binmode can help portability, so I mentioned because you (or a reader solving a similar problem) might have been using Windows or other OS that may need it.

As for replying to your own node, I see that the "Comment on" link is below the update section, so I imagine that you'd just click it as for any other node. (Not intending to be snarky, I almost missed it when I looked for it too. I was expecting it to be above the update stuff.)

...roboticus

When your only tool is a hammer, all problems look like your thumb.