For example: (30 - field data) = additonal spacing Needed Output: Ent , Name , SCO11 , RUN , Current Data: Ent, Name, SCO11, RUN, Ent, Name, NA932, TAKE, I wrote the following code for equal spacing: $counter = 0; foreach(@newstuff){ $counter++; if(m/Ent/){ $counter=0;} if(m/Payor/){ if($counter > $hold){ $hold = $counter; } } } $counter2 = 0; foreach(@newstuff){ $counter2++; if(m/Ent/){ $counter2=0;} if(m/Payor/){ if($counter2 < $hold){ $temp = $counter2; for($temp;$temp < $hold; $temp++){ #for($j=0;$j < $hold; $j++){ s/Payor/\nPayor/; } } } }