>>I just want to state that I feel Ed's suggestion was a good one. I think it >was enough to put Tom on the right track. I don't think answers need to >include ideas about where to put error checking, parameter checking, files >existence checking, etc..
>
>I appoligize sincerely for posting up a message that was a bit more flexible and showed a bit more. Which would you rather receive - a solution for the moment - and a new technique that would provide flexibility for tomorrow.
>

That didn't sound sincere.

>>We can make the assumption that the person posting the question will take the >suggestion and use his/her programming techniques and practices to implement >the idea...
>
>I will leave assuming up to others.

Are you suggesting that you never assume? You make assumptions regarding a person's level of understanding everytime you speak/type. I think you assume that people have a lower level of programing knowledge/expertise than Ed assumes they have.