Timothy Murphy writes: > I wonder if it would not be possible > to lay down a fairly strict protocol > governing "acceptable" packages, > so that one could automate downloading? > very much so. our friend Joachim Schrod was once specifying this, but it never got off the ground. my rules would be: - general applicability ( :-} ) - no duplication of functionality - works with any or all of other packages in collection (within reason) - uses fixed directory structure and file names to allow automated updating - comes with documentation and test file (if possible) Sebastian