use 5.008000;  # open \$var
open(my $fh, '<', \$var);
while (<$fh>) {
   ...
}
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or

while ($var =~ /(.*\n|.+)/g) {
   ...
}
[download]

Cool. I didn't know it also works with refs. An alternative is IO::Scalar.

use IO::Scalar;
### Open a handle on a string, read it line-by-line, then close it:
$SH = new IO::Scalar \$var;
while (<$SH>) {
   #  ...
}
close $SH;
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---

print+qq(\L@{[ref\&@]}@{['@'x7^'!#2/"!4']});

ikegami's post gives you the best solution you're going to get.

open my $STR, "<", \$scalar;
[download]

is the way to go

Unless I misunderstand the question, Tie::File is the wrong thing here. It makes a file look like an array. But I think what OP wants is to make a scalar look like a file.

--
Mark Dominus
Perl Paraphernalia

Yes, you're absolutely right.

But to me, this problem seems to fall somewhere in the middle regarding how it should be handled... On the one hand, a scalar containing the entire file would make it easier to perform the numerous regex substitutions, while on the other hand, an array would make it easier to to shift off the required items.

I think the point I was trying to make was that an "array" (instead of reading the entire file into a scalar) might be another approach to this problem.

Update: After re-reading the OP's question, I now realize that I pretty much ignored the basic spec for the problem.

Your wish is my commandline.