my($wday, $mon, $mday, $time, $year) = $var =~ /\A(\S+) (\S+) (\S+) (\d+):/; #### $var =~ /\A(\S+) (\S+) (\S+) (\d+):/; #### (?:[SMTWF]) warning I know my syntax is off so please don't use this.