"ProgrammingError: (ProgrammingError) You must not use 8-bit bytestrings unless you use a text_factory that can interpret 8-bit bytestrings (like text_factory = str). It is highly recommended that you instead just switch your application to Unicode strings."

I'd hazard that the easiest way to solve this problem is to explicitly encode the url when you pass it to the other program, something like: myprog.pl --use-this-url #echo eightbitstr.encode('utf-8') ---- Paul Agapow (paul-michael.agapow@hpa.org.uk) Bioinformatics, Centre for Infections, Health Protection Agency ----------------------------------------- ************************************************************************** The information contained in the EMail and any attachments is confidential and intended solely and for the attention and use of the named addressee(s). It may not be disclosed to any other person without the express authority of the HPA, or the intended recipient, or both. If you are not the intended recipient, you must not disclose, copy, distribute or retain this message or any part of it. This footnote also confirms that this EMail has been swept for computer viruses, but please re-sweep any attachments before opening or saving. HTTP://www.HPA.org.uk **************************************************************************