As Bill Lam pointed out, 1!:0 does the trick (of obtaining the modification time of a file). I had completely overlooked this capability of 1!:0 while looking for a standalone verb along the lines of 1!:4, 1!:6, or 1!:7. I should have read all the choices for 1!:n more closely!
Another aspect of file modification datestamps is still troubling me. Perhaps there is another simple answer. This is that the modification time for .jmf files does not always change when the contents of those files are changed by reassigning a variable to which they are mapped. It would seem safer and more informative to change it. Thanks, Dick V. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For information about J forums see http://www.jsoftware.com/forums.htm
