$c = "test test test"; $c = correct_length($c); $fmt = "A4 x1 A4 x1 A4 x1 A4"; @c = unpack($fmt, "$c"); print join ("*",@c), "\n"; $d = "test test test "; $d = correct_length($d); $fmt = "A4 x1 A4 x1 A4 x1 A4"; @d = unpack($fmt, "$d"); print join ("*",@d), "\n"; sub correct_length { my ($string) = shift; $string .= ' ' unless length($string) >= 15; return($string); }