while ( ) { my $data = $_; my @cols = (split(' ', $data, 4), (map scalar reverse, reverse split(' ', reverse($data), 5))[1..3]); print "<$_>" for @cols; print "\n"; } __DATA__ 6 2 -78 testing stuff 0 69.68.119.54:28960 34756 25000 7 4 118 [:EsU:]|BLaZE| 0 24.86.4.164:28960 7248 5000 6 2 78 tesssssssting gg gggggggg REAAAAA 40 69.68.119.54:28960 34756 25000 #### <6><2><-78><0><69.68.119.54:28960><34756> <7><4><118><[:EsU:]|BLaZE| 0 24.86.4.164:28960 7248 5000 ><0><24.86.4.164:28960><7248> <6><2><78><40><69.68.119.54:28960><34756> #### while ( ) { my @tmp = split ' ', $_, 4; my @start = splice @tmp, 0, 3; @tmp = split ' ', (reverse $tmp[0]), 5; $_ = reverse for @tmp; my @parsed = ( @start, reverse @tmp ); print "<$_>" for @parsed; print "\n"; } #### <6><2><-78><0><69.68.119.54:28960><34756><25000> <7><4><118><[:EsU:]|BLaZE|><0><24.86.4.164:28960><7248><5000> <6><2><78><40><69.68.119.54:28960><34756><25000>