my $file="c:\\temp\\var.xml";
my $line;
my $task_number;
if(-e $file){
open(READ, "<$file")|| die "cannot open file\n\n";
while($line=<READ>){
my @array = split(/\s/,$line);
my $task_number =~/\$task_number=(\d)/, @array;
print $1"\n\n";
}
close (READ);
}

#Then use that $1 value for something else.