@Drago: You said it bruthah! I hate this aspect of C++, and this is the typical and accepted way people use the language all the time. I steer clear of big C++ class libraries because of this sort of nonsense. And, don't even get me started on C++ "templates" or the "let's try (and fail) to code our way around the fundamental shortcomings of C++" that is called "STL" (the Standard Templates Library). LOL!