....this is going to sound like a silly question BUT here goes anyway. Is there any reason why the root element of an xml file cannot have an attribute e.g. number of first child elements. The only reason I ask is because I have had a hard time finding an example of it in the wild. -- Christopher Joseph ------------------- [Internet] http://www.ideadesigners.com [iseries & web technologies] mailto: christopher at ideadesigners.com [Telephone] mobile: +44 7966 003860 Office: +44 1494 731814 ext. 832 Direct: +44 1494 731832 [Instant Message] ICQ: 78019724 YIM = Josephc_98 MSN = christopher at ideadesigners.com