Indeed! I created a sample file, and the advantage of NETDATA over DISK DUMP (file size of the NETDATA version was nearly half of the DISK DUMP version) seems to come from the additional control fields added by DISK DUMP to each record. For comparison, I tried the same file with CARD DUMP, which DOES pack blanks, and my 486-DISK DUMP-record file became a file of 6 records! Talk about performance increase! PS: The original file was 112 records, all blank and record size of 200,F. NETDATA grew this file slightly to 287 records, record size of 80, DISK DUMP (get ready) produced a file of 451 records, size 80 ! Regards, -turgut