Dieter, Thanks for the information. I created a test db file and followed the zope external methods how-to, but when I went to create the external method I received a syntax error. Is there something wrong with your syntax, or how I am doing it? (Also, if my db file was a semi-colon delimited file it looks like I would replace the ',' portion with ':' right? I really must pick up a python book!) Here is the code (.py file) and the test db file: py file: import string def importCommaSeparatedFile(testdb.db): """returns list of items in comma separated file with name *filename*.""" return string.split(open(testdb.db).read(),',') testdb.db file: run,sean,dogs walk,joe,cats sprint,ted,camel On 21 Sep 2000, at 0:33, Dieter Maurer wrote:

sean@horse101.com writes:

...

I have a comma delimited file ... ... If so, does one of them allow me to use my existing db file (at least import it)? There will be no problem to import your file.

The following external method imports the file and returns the list of its elements. This list can then be processed with "dtml-in":

import string

def importCommaSeparatedFile(filename): """returns list of items in comma separated file with name *filename*.""" return string.split(open(filename).read(),',')

To do the whole work, you have to learn something about Zope, external methods, "dtml-in" and maybe Z SQL methods (if your links go into a relational database).

You will have to do some homework.

Dieter