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Message: [QUOTE="Roedy Green, post: 3112814"] The usual problem people have with split in this: The split argument is NOT a simple String, but rather a regex expression. $ ( ) * + - . < = ? [ \ ] ^ { | } characters have magic meaning. They need to be quoted when you mean them literally. See [URL]http://mindprod.com/jgloss/regex.html#QUOTING[/URL] This baffles people. However, your question Should be solved easily with a simple experiment. It baffles me when people ask questions like yours. It would be less work, less typing and much faster to do the experiment than to post a question. I wonder what inhibits people from experimenting. 1. too many Star Trek episodes where computers explode given the "wrong" inputs. 2. punishment as a child for asking questions. 3. punishment as a child for curiosity. 4. lack of confidence in your ability to perform experiments or lack of confidence in the generality of experimental results. You prefer the authority of another human. I recall teaching a computer course to some women reentering the work force as part of a government program. I asked them to pound some random keys to prove to themselves the computer would not explode. I meant this as a joke, and to ease the fear of making mistakes. One woman asked "Which key should I hit". I said, "Any you like.. Close your eyes. Just hit any keys you like." She burst into tears. She then reported me for abusing her by giving her inadequate direction on what to do. She was an extreme example of someone afraid to experiment, someone terrified of making a mistake or doing something without explicit permission. At the opposite end are kids who are itching to press every button to see if they can figure out what it does. The kindest thing a parent can do is avoid squashing his children's curiosity. That was one thing my parents did well. "The reason is, that I'm doubtful about the temper of your flamingo. Shall I try the experiment?'" ~ The Dutchess, Alice In Wonderland. [/QUOTE]

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