george; may I suggest: (1) at the start of FN yourPrefFile DIM oldResRefNum% oldResRefNum% = FN CURRESFILE'this is the very first thing to do (2) at the end of FN yourPrefFile CALL USERESFILE(oldResRefNum%)'this is the very last thing to do cheers, ---------------------------------------------------------- Michael Evans Manager of Software Development * Photo Systems, Inc. 3301 Wood Valley Road, NW * Atlanta, GA, 30327-1515 Voice: (404) 846-9386 Fax: (404) 240-0878 * Cell: (404) 229-3930 E-mail: evans@... * michael_evans@... ----------------------------------------------------------