Thank you for your help. Can you possibly offer me a suggestion as to what I could do if this were the following file.

"Jane" "Doe" "123 Lover's Lane" 09/22/2001 "Beverly" "CA"
"EOS"
[download]

See the 4GL that is creating these packets to be passed back to the interface code is using an export tool that puts "s around character fields and nothing around numberic, decimal or integer fields? I do not mean to be so confused. I am learning a ton and so grateful for any and all help you could offer to me. peace dez l