check if a variable is in a number of states.

Hi, I would like to check whether a variable, $type, is equal to a number of different possible states. I know I could use if ( $type == "abc" || $type == "bcd") { $a = b } but this would get a bit clumsy if I had to check whether it is say one of 20 different things. What I was wondering is, is there a better way of doing this? I will occasionally need to add another option as well, although I don't mind a simple code edit. Cheers for your help, Donald __________________________________________ As well as learning more, I learn that there is even more I don't know http://www.donaldrnoble.f2s.com ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯