Here's what I've found one has to use in csh scripts (I presume it will work with sh as well): #!/bin/csh awk 'BEGIN{id='"$2"';}{ \ printf(\"%8d %s\n\", id++, \$0); \ }' $1 The quotes around $2 are necessary because $2 might contain blanks... Rik Verstraete. rik at UCLA-CS.ARPA ...!{ihnp4,ucbvax}!ucla-cs!rik