Hello fellow Scripters: Spam vs Ham aside, Applescript is doing something that I quite don't understand. I have a small script looking like this: set FileName to "Macintosh HD:source code:Applescript Convert:TestScripts:Example 2" as alias set FileHandle to open for access FileName without write permission set buf to read FileHandle until return display dialog "|" & buf & "|" set tempbuf to read FileHandle before "$" display dialog "|" & tempbuf & "|" set tempbuf to read FileHandle before return display dialog "|" & tempbuf & "|" close access FileHandle The actual file from which data is being read looks like this for the first, say five lines: $$17$Y211419.003A$07$B$00410000$011208$ $20$ [TB1,48.0,48.0,516.0,276.0][LD14][RR][NH][LYNN][PS10][BF]This is page [SPGN][EBF]. Page size is 7. A vermilion moon hung gibbous The first and second DISPLAY DIALOGs perform as expected, the first displaying the very first line of text and includes the RETURN character, the second displaying only a return character. The third DISPLAY DIALOG, however, displays only a "20$" regardless of whether I am using READ BEFORE or READ UNTIL. I really, really need that dollar sign in the data that precedes the "20." Can anyone suggest a remedy? R, John A.M. Darnell Software Development In honor of THE MATRIX RELOADED: In the first movie, close to the climax, Keanu Reeves and Carrie Ann Moss take a harrowing express ride up an elevator by explosively disconnecting the counterweight. Just before activating the detonator, Reeves says something. What was it that he said?