>i would suggest that we need two new functions/statements: > FBemptyContainer( gContainer) > // this empties a container but keeps it around > myLong = FBisContainerEmpty( gContainer) > // returns _false [Ø] if no content, and could return the size if not > //Run in Console local mode local fn FBemptyContainer( @C as ptr) // this empties a container but keeps it around if C.0& then sethandlesize(C.0&,0) end fn local mode clear local fn FBisContainerEmpty( @C as ptr) // returns _false [Ø] if no content, and could return the size if not dim rslt if C.0& then rslt = fn gethandlesize(C.0&) = 0 end fn = rslt dim c$$ C = "1234567890" print C long if fn FBisContainerEmpty(C) print "Empty" xelse print "Not empty" end if fn FBemptyContainer(C) print C long if fn FBisContainerEmpty(C) print "Empty" xelse print "Not empty" end if 0"0 =J= a y "