jeffa, yeah i know and that is what, POD::Usage, i most like/want to use instead of my own usage(). problem is that perl 5.005 as bundled w/ freebsd 4 doesn't has that module.

OTOH, i don't get (m)any queries (good or bad) about this or other perl programs posted to freebsd mailing lists, so i might as well use the module. thanks for the nudge.

it was fun to write usage() nonethelss.