yeah thanks i've tried the Storable thing, it sounds like just what I need but I just get the message:

Storable object version 1.012 does not match $Storable::VERSION 1.014 at C:/Perl/lib/DynaLoader.pm line 225.
Compilation failed in require at storable line 1.
BEGIN failed--compilation aborted at storable.pl line 1.

I'm using Activestate Perl and their ppm thing isn't working at the moment so I can't even try reinstalling the module:-( ah well maybe i'll just keep on opening and closing the filehandles in a textfile instead, thanks Tom