Why not do #define HUGE_STRING_LEN MAX_STRING_LEN and live with the smaller string length for everything. This will limit some things, but it will also keep swap space down and eliminate (or at least reduce the impact of) swap space problems. FC -- ----------------- \Management /\/| 216-686-0090 - PO Box 1480, Hudson, OH 44236 \ /\/ | Check out info-security heaven and test your system \/\ /\/ | for known vulnerabilities (1st time for free) at URL: \/Analytics| (scans deeper than SATAN or ISS) http://all.net:8080 ----------------- Read "Protection and Security on the Information Superhighway" -just released by Wiley and Sons-