Thanks guys but I am still not getting it. This part --> gp.FeatureclassToCoverage_conversion("'Database Connections\\%s at GIS_srv-earth.sde\\GIS.GIS.Cadastral\\GIS.GIS.Parcels' POLYGON", prcl83, "", "DOUBLE") <-- % luser is one long command. I need to be able to insert the luser variable deep in the middle of that. Phil