$data = 'Sat Jun 4 05:56:00 BST 2005 INFO: PD/ZVKK Load: Starting.'; if ($data =~ /^(.*)?:+\s(.*)?:+\s(.*)$/) { # $1 contains the string 'Sat Jun 4 05:56:00 BST 2005 INFO' # $2 contains the string 'PD/ZVKK Load' # $3 contains the string 'Starting' }