my $var = '-rwxr-xr-x 1 svcn-3 ymn-3 7618486 Jan 20 21:42 20040120-299-x49.exe'; printf "Update at %s %s at %s hours\n", (split /\s+/, $var)[5,6,7]; #### printf "Update at %s %s at %s hours\n", ($var =~ /^(?:\S+\s+){5}(\S+)\s+(\S+)\s+(\S+)/);