Barry's note prompted me to update my Python tree. The result: >>> ".".join(dir("")) 'capitalize.count.endswith.find.index.join.lower.lstrip.replace.rfind.rindex.rstrip.split.startswith.strip.swapcase.translate.upper' A job well done, Barry... Skip Montanaro | http://www.mojam.com/ skip@mojam.com | http://www.musi-cal.com/ 847-971-7098 | Python: Programming the way Guido indented...