my @fields = $string =~ m/([^|]*)\|?/g;
$string && $string !~ /\|$/ && pop @fields;

##</code><code>##

my @fields = split(/\|/,$string,$string =~ tr/|/|/ + 1);

##</code><code>##

my $fieldcount = $string =~ tr/|/|/ + 1;
my @fields     = split(/\|/, $string, $fieldcount);