This next line may sound a bit noobish (and it is) but it's how I feel :-)

YAAAAAAAY, IT WORKED! Thanks!

Probably my fault...the original site was using the random method but that was refusing to work for me. At one point I did try pre-allocating the string...or at least I thought so...I checked my IM history (I asked a friend if he saw any problems) and it looks like I *actually* used "data = Space$(blocksize)" :-)

Thanks again...this is an important part of a project I am working on and makes the whole thing a lot easier!