> Begin globals > dim as str255 gC1 > end globals > > local fn showvoltage > dim as str255 c > dim as short nCharsReady,pPos > > nCharsReady = lof (-1) > read #-1,c;nCharsReady > gc1 = gc1 + c Ted, Just a guess here at a potential problem. Your defining "gC1" then using "gc1" internally. All the code gets converted into "C" which is case sensitive so the two variables are actually different. Again, just a guess. Max