use warnings; use strict; my $doc = do { local $/; ; }; # slurp entire file # print "<<<$doc>>> \n"; # FOR DEBUG my $rx_account = qr{ (?>> \n\n"; print "account '$account' amount '$amount' \n"; __DATA__ ACCOUNT NUMBER 000111111111 YOUR LOAN PAYMENT FOR THE YEAR WILL BE 00.00 OF WHICH 00.00 WILL BE FOR PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST, 00.00 WILL GO ESCROW ACCOUNT, AND .00 WILL BE FOR DISCRETIONARY ITEMS THAT YOU CHOSE TO BE INCLUDED WITH YOUR LOAN PAYMENT. THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF YOUR NEW SCHEDULED PAYMENT IS 00/00/00. #### c:\@Work\Perl\monks\crusty_collins>perl match_multiline_1.pl two lines: <<>> account '000111111111' amount '00.00'