Well, I guess I didn't see it.... Thanks anyway Suzy and Anna.... Here I thought my dad called me son because I was bright. Jim -----Original Message----- From: program-java-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:program-java-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Anna Giller Sent: September 28, 2009 14:40 To: program-java@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [program-java] Re: [program-java] Jim, It's great, but it's exactly what Susie advised you to do, she even sent the explaination document. Anna ________________________________ From: program-java-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:program-java-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Corbett, James Sent: Monday, September 28, 2009 1:30 PM To: program-java@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [program-java] Here's another way of formatting the string portion: return String.format("%05d", recLen); I ended up using the above and by strongly impressing upon the COBOL people the error of there ways when defining the field as a numeric I got my own way. ....and I only had to hold my breath for 10 minutes. Sometimes when you don't have to look at the bewildered looks upon others faces you can accomplish lots. Jim James M. Corbett Programmer / Analyst GST/HST Micros | Micros de la TPS/TVH Business Suite Assessing Systems (BSAS) Revenue and Accounting Systems Directorate (RASD) | Direction des Systèmes de revenu et de comptabilité (DSRC) Information Technology Branch (ITB) | Direction générale de l'informatique (DGI) Canada Revenue Agency | Agence du revenue du Canada (613) 941-1338 "...Is a hippopotamus a hippopotamus, or just a really cool Opotamus?"