The <FILE> doesn't read into $_. You can add a 'print $_;' in there to
verify it. I think you're getting confused by the while(<FILE>){...}
structure. This puts the result of the readline into $_ for you if the
<FILE> is the only thing in the '()'. Otherwise, I believe just calling
<FILE> on a line by itself sends that line to the bit bucket.
Hope this helps.
Peter C.
-----Original Message-----
From: Gary Luther [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: Tuesday, May 15, 2001 11:01 AM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Perplexing problem.........probably beginners luck??
I have a test file that looks like this:
TAXFN A
GREAT BIG TITLE PAGE: 1
A SMALL TITLE RUN DATE: 05/01/01
SUBTITLE
I read down into the file until I find a match on "A SMALL TITLE". I then
call a subroutine to further process the file.
I am looking for the report id which is TAXFN and the run date.
This code works:
seek(FILE,0,0); # Back to the beginning of file
$reread = <FILE>;
chomp($reread);
print "$reread\n";
$reread =~ /(\s*\w+)/;
$REPID = $1;
$REPID =~ s/^\s+//;
$REPID =~ s/\s+$//;
print "Report ID = $REPID\n";
<FILE>;
chomp;
/(\d{2})\D(\d{2})\D(\d{2})/;
print "Run Date = $1\/$2\/$3\n";
while this code doesn't:
seek(FILE,0,0); # Back to the beginning of file
<FILE>;
/(\s*\w+)/;
$REPID = $1;
$REPID =~ s/^\s+//;
$REPID =~ s/\s+$//;
print "Report ID = $REPID\n";
<FILE>;
chomp;
/(\d{2})\D(\d{2})\D(\d{2})/;
print "Run Date = $1\/$2\/$3\n";
In the doesn't work code I always end up with the second line. Why does
reading into a variable instead of $_ make a difference?
Why does the read for the date work with $_ just fine?? I am confused.
TIA for any thoughts.
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