sub view_it {
open (DATABASE, "$mydata") || &CgiDie ("I am sorry, but I was not able to open the 
data file.");
flock (DATABASE, 2);
@list = <DATABASE>;
flock (DATABASE, 8);
close (DATABASE);
foreach $list (@list) {                               
($lname, $fname, $email, $phone, $message, $ip, $date) = split(/\|\|/, $list);
&byName;
$test = 1;
&print_it;
}
}

sub byName {  # sort database by first 8 of last name 
((substr $a, 0, 8) cmp (substr $b, 0, 8)); }
    $i = 0;  # loop counter
    
   while (<>) { $filerecs[$i++] = $_; }
    
   @sorted_recs = sort byName @filerecs