>>EQF
>Roger

>> The first step is to learn how to unzip Perl tar.gz module files and merge
>> them with the Perl program. I still don’t know exactly how to do that.

> That's a Linux compressed archive. I don't think you can do it in Windows.

Actually, you can. I do it all the time. WinZIP will do it. I'm sure others will as well.

>> However, I know that you are not especially fond of Perl. I did check on
>> X-Basic but decided not to use it even though I would probably like it
>> quite a bit more than Perl.

> Thet's Skywise's language of choice. There's an active version of it too.
> XBLite I think.

XBLite is a windows only version of XBasic. Mainly, instead of using it's own internal GUI functions it uses Windows. This makes XBLite programs look and act like common everyday windows programs.

Also, you referred to it as being an "active version", implying the XBasic is inactive. There hasn't been an update to XBasic in many years simply because it's not needed. The language is stable. There is active support in the Yahoo mailing list.

>> The Perl language has the advantages that it is supported by a company –
>> ActiveState. So there won’t be any application errors or viruses getting
>> into it. And it is a free download from them.

> Free is always nice.

Not only is XBasic free, it's open source. As such, that eliminates the possibility of viruses or back doors or any other nasties. All the source code is out there in the open for anyone to see. Of course, the only caveat is that XBasic is written in XBasic (which is one reason it's so powerful)

I know I keep crowing about XB. I'm not trying to force anyone to switch. I'm just enormously impressed with it's capabilities, and I'm a rank amateur programmer.

Brian