"AK" == Akira Kakuto writes: AK> - $s =~ s:[\\\"]:\\&1:g ; # quote double-quote and backslash AK> + $s =~ s:[\\\"]:\\$1:g ; # quote double-quote and backslash this ought to be $s =~ s:([\\\"]):\\$1:g ; # quote double-quote and backslash Best, v.