open(IN, "<$file") || die "Can't open $file!\n";

while(<IN>) {
chomp($_);
my ($id, $stdate, $enddate, $person) = split(/\|\|/, $_);
}

##</code><code>##

James P  24 id's
Alex S   50 id's
Diane G   4 id's
James A  12 id's
Sam D    11 id's