I actually did  $string .= " " x ($width-length($string)); in a script today - D'oh! Didn't even think about /printf | substr | unpack/ As it turned out, 'funny' things happen when <code>($width-length($s)<0</code)> so either you need to test for that (as I ended up doing) or do it another way -pack seems to be the best tool for what I'm doing -thanks for the fresh view.
-ase