From: ts Date: 2001-07-21T00:38:23+09:00 Subject: [ruby-talk:18189] Re: Newbie. Sinking fast. Please help. >>>>> "M" == Matt writes: M> not ok system 7 -- /home/lewellyn/ruby-1.6.4/sample/test.rb:985 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ This is the line 985 of sample/test.rb ruby is trying `./miniruby -x script_tmp -zzz=555` == '555' where script_tmp contains this is a leading junk #! /usr/local/bin/ruby -s print $zzz __END__ this is a trailing junk What is the result when you run it in a script ? Guy Decoux