The reference manual doesn't say that dots are permitted in atoms but they seem to be, e.g. in unquoted long node names. Is there a formal grammar (e.g. BNF) of Erlang anywhere? Tony. -- f.a.n.finch <dot@REDACTED> http://dotat.at/ HEBRIDES: SOUTH OR SOUTHEAST 4 OR 5, OCCASIONALLY 6 OR 7. MODERATE OR ROUGH. RAIN LATER. MODERATE OR GOOD.