thanks sergey - unfortunately too efficient - this removes all returns and gives me: (from example below)
line 1 of textline 2 of textline 3 of textline 5 of text
k

>New Line combination in Windows is CR + LF, CHR(13)+CHR(10). If there're no addtional spaces
>

>STRTRAN(whatever,  CHR(13)+CHR(10), "")
>

>
>>Does anyone know how i can get rid of emtpy lines in a text file:
>>I thought this might work - it doesn't :(
>>welcome any suggestions
>>k
>>

>>=STRTOFILE(CHRTRAN(FILETOSTR("c:\mydir\m.txt"),CHR(13)+"  ",' '),"c:\mydir\m.txt")
>>

>>original text:
>>line 1 of text
>>line 2 of text
>>
>>
>>line 3 of text
>>
>>line 5 of text
>>
>>i would like converted to
>>line 1 of text
>>line 2 of text
>>line 3 of text
>>line 5 of text