My feeling about this, Jaime, is that you'd be safer using the low level file functions FOpen(), FClose() etc. At least you have some control and feedback about the files.

Barbara

>Why don't you try the good old fox-dos way of dealing with this?
>Try the following:
>
>set alternate to thefile.txt
>set device to alternate
>set alternate on
>
>CurL = prow()
>@ CurL, pcol() say TheHeaderData
>@ CurL+1, pcol() say StuffFromTheSecondFile
>close alternate
>set device to screen
>
>You can also close it and reopen it in append mode:
>set alternate to thefile.txt additive
>
>Also, you need to set device to alternate only if you want to use the @ say command, otherwise, you can use the ? or ?? commands, and then you won't need to set device to alternate.
>
>HTH
>Jaime
>
>>Thanks everyone for your suggestions - I will work through them and let you know how I am getting on... Thanks again...