DC>   Now, I have had all sorts of problems using malloc to
DC>   allocate space for a character array, so I would instead
DC>   like to forget about using malloc,
   While that may get you around the current difficulty, it
   won't help towards your understanding of the use of malloc()
   I've done the same thing on many occasions, and regretted it.
   Later, when I finally bit the bullet and set out to conquer
   the thing which had my cowed, it turned out to be a good deal
   simpler than my perceptions had colored it. I DID have
   trouble with pointers and dynamic allocation and am given to
   understand that this is not at all uncommon, so I don't feel
   too bad about it. :)
   If you saw my posting of I_READ_ME.C then you should be able
   to figure out how to use an array of char pointers and
   malloc() to read an array of strings.
   A 2D char array will work, yes, but it seems only that your
   understanding of pointers is incomplete.
char List_of_Strings[30][16];
/*  This provides 30 16-char strings. */
strcpy(List_of_Strings[0], "String 0");
/*  Look up strcpy() in your online help */
fgets(List_of_Strings[0], 16, Datafile);
/*  Look up fgets() in your online help */

---
> ] I like going to bullfights on acid... [ Lacey Underall ]....

---