Thanks for the fast reply. When I ran the script, I get a 0 for result. Any idea why?
code:
  
$file="%temp%\text.txt"
$string="*"
$length=len($string)
$count=0
$=open(1,$file,1)
$line=readline(1)
while @error=0
:lookagain
$pos=instrrev($line,$string)
if $pos
$count=$count+1
$string=left($string,$pos)
goto lookagain
endif
$line=readline(1)
loop
$=close(1)
? $count

example text.txt file:
ientv*no,now d* iernvi*
*lm*ohnv.*

[ 07 June 2002, 00:38: Message edited by: Jake ]