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