*** This works but inefficient ***

$item = ($input{'item'}); #input passed in from html form

$found=0; #set $found to zero
open(FILE, "myfile.txt") || die("$!") #open for reading
while(<FILE>) { #while file is open
flock(FILE, 2); 
@line = split(/ /, $_); #split fields with single space
$itemDB = $line[0]; #assign 1st element from DB to $itemDB
if ($itemDB eq $item) {
$found++ #increment $found if true
} #end if **DO I NEED A next, last or continue somewhere??
} #end while
flock(FILE, 8); #unlock file
close(FILE); #close file

if ($found) { #if $found is true
&Sub1(); #call this sub if true
}
else {
&Sub2(); #call this sub if false
}

(html blah, blah)