Thanks for the reply. No I hadn't seen your post to John - I'll follow it up.

At least there's one more newcomer with a similar view. I haven't had a run in with Ed Rauh yet, but he has already warned me to expect him to be abusive. Now if that isn't off-putting to a newcomer, I don't know what is - may be the ones who award the MVP, should also take into account negative replies such as that one - he might give good answers to a lot of people, but surely Microsoft don't want to be seen rewarding someone who is regularly abusive & appears proud of the fact (I see a reply to Marcia Atkins, where he basically says that anybody he replies to should be grateful for the titbits he throws their way, hardly the gracious, caring attitude people are telling me MVPs must have to get the reward).