While using a module or a database's built in time/date functions would be best you can do it as a straight numeric comparison. But you must be very careful as to how you order those numbers or you'll get Improper results.
# yyyymmdd $foo = 20030101; $bar = 20021231; # can even add hours minutes seconds but I'll leave that as an # Exercise in logic :) if( $foo > $bar ){ print "\$foo is greater then \$bar \n"; } elsif( $foo == $bar){ print "\$foo is equal to \$bar \n"; } else { print "\$bar is greater then \$foo \n"; } HTH DMuey -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]