(path to perl.exe) (path to perl file)file.pl < (inputfile with path) > (outputfile with path)

example:

C:\Perl\bin\perl.exe C:\test.pl < C:\sometextfile.txt > C:\someresultfile.txt

I call this *.bat file from within VB by using the following code:

iTask = Shell(Environ$("COMSPEC") & " /c " & sPath, vbHide)
   pHandle = OpenProcess(SYNCHRONIZE, False, iTask)
   If pHandle <> 0 Then
       WaitForSingleObject pHandle, INFINITE
       CloseHandle pHandle
   End If

' sPath is the path to the bat file.
' You can do sPath = AddBackSlash(App.Path)&"batchfile.bat"
' to create the proper path in vb


##</code><code>##

use Common;
use Output;
use Analysis;

&Output::beginlogging;


#process file line by line
while ( $record = <STDIN> )
{
etc...

##</code><code>##

perl -I(path to dir. of modules) (path to script)\script.pl < (path to inputfile)\inputfile.txt > (path to outputfile)\outputfile.txt

##</code><code>##


This part goes in your general part of the vb file:>>>

Option Explicit

Private Declare Function WaitForSingleObject Lib "kernel32" _
   (ByVal hHandle As Long, ByVal dwMilliseconds As Long) As Long

Private Declare Function CloseHandle Lib "kernel32" _
   (ByVal hObject As Long) As Long
   
Private Declare Function OpenProcess Lib "kernel32" _
   (ByVal dwDesiredAccess As Long, ByVal bInheritHandle As Long, _
    ByVal dwProcessId As Long) As Long

Private Const INFINITE = -1&
Private Const SYNCHRONIZE = &H100000


This part goes in a function or subroutine:>>>

Dim iTask As Long, ret As Long, pHandle As Long

iTask = Shell(Environ$("COMSPEC") & " /c " & sPath, vbHide)
pHandle = OpenProcess(SYNCHRONIZE, False, iTask)
If pHandle <> 0 Then
     WaitForSingleObject pHandle, INFINITE
     CloseHandle pHandle
End If