use POSIX qw/ strftime /;           # standard module
$today = strftime("%D", localtime); # localtime in list context


##</code><code>##

use POSIX qw/ strftime /;
open  trf, ">/tmp/.$handle";
print trf strftime("$handle|$crpw|$first_name|$last_name|$email_addy|0|%D", localtime);
close trf;