That method had occurred to me, but in a way I think the problem would be similar from a maintenance perspective.

On the one hand, it doesn't use a goto, but on the other hand, it uses symbolic (Update: Ack! they're not symbolic, I just didn't read it right! thanks!!)coderefs. If the future maintainer isn't a perl guy (and in some cases, even if he is), he'll have a much better chance of cursing my name but still getting through it if there's something as hated and feared, but at least known as a goto, than if I stick him with something where the only clue is no strict 'refs' and some good comments.

Still, for validation of the parameter, your solution is much easier and more reliable. There is a "guaranteed" set of steps in a "guaranteed" order, and you can't just jump to any old arbitrary place in the script. From that point of view, I may go with it instead.

thanks!

MM