open (FNAMES, "<$Form{han}.txt") or die "Cannot open $Form{han}.txt: $!\n"; while(){ # for every line in the file. chomp; # remove trailing end of line character unlink $_ or die "Cannot unlink $_: $!\n"; } close FNAMES; # close it before you unlink it. unlink "$Form{han}.txt" or die "Cannot unlink $Form{han}.txt: $!\n"; #### unlink "$Form{han}.txt" or die "Cannot unlink $Form{han}.txt: $!\n";