problems getting reseluts from passthru()

I am trying to use passthru() to get wvHtml (which takes a M$word .doc file and converts it to html) to spit out to the browser the results of execution. My code is like so: <?php $filname = word.doc; passthru(wvHtml $filename); ?> What I get is an empty screen with absolutely no source. Now if I change the execution line to wvHtml $filename > word.html then I get a new file created named word.html, so I know the program is executed. stdout for wvHtml is to the screen. Do I have to redirect this? According to the manual it seems that stdout of the executed program would be dumped directly to the browser in a binary safe manner. Is there anyone who knows what incredibly simple step I am missing here? -- Lewis Bergman Texas Communications 4309 Maple St. Abilene, TX 79602 915-695-6962