Hi Steve,     If you code inside the development environment, there are icons along the top which allow you to insert breakpoints wherever you'd like inside the program.  Alternatively, if you just use a simple text editor for coding (like I do), you can insert the command STOP where you'd like the program to break.  This will keep all the current variable values, and send you out to the interactive IDL command line.   Dave

Dave, Thanks for the reply. I tried the method you suggest, but when I rerun the program it continues onward from the breakpoint. I am trying to stop execution at the breakpoint every time I rerun the program. The only solution I've found so far is to insert a goto statement at my breakpoing with the label before the 'end.' Pretty hoaky but it works. Steve