[severely edited for brevity -dM] > diff -c -b -r1.1.1.1 split.c > ! if ((numlines = strtol(optarg, &ep, 10)) <= 0 || *p) > --- 115,121 ---- > ! if ((numlines = strtol(optarg, &ep, 10)) <= 0) Shouldn't that be if ((numlines = strtol(optarg, &ep, 10)) <= 0 || *ep) der Mouse mouse@collatz.mcrcim.mcgill.edu