ok both alternate and set print to appear to work ok, is there a difference between the two? also I don't suppose I can get them to append to that text file rather than overwrite? no problem if not I can just make it a temp text file which I then open and append to the end of the ongoing log.

is capturing @..say output is possible aswell?

if not it's no great issue 99% of the prg's use ? or ?? you've been a great help, thanks.

Ken.