include XHTML document

Hi I wrote my new page in XHTML 1.0, split it and wanted to include the top part of the file with the include( "page_top.htm"). The problem is, that the valid XHTML document has to begin with <?xml version="1.0" encoding="iso-8859-1"?> The problem now is, that <? is interpreted as a begin of php commands. I for myself use <?php when starting commands, but the compiler also use <?. Is there a way to work around? I by myself would appreciate if php commands would always start with <?php and the <? would be irgnored in future. Christian Weiske <<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Christian Weiske, RealDreams cweiske@cweiske.de www.cweiske.de <<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Always forgetting birthdays? Try RealDreams birthday reminder! http://www.cweiske.de/index.php3?goto=birthday