my $seek = '@#]$%(*&Y^%';

my $test = 'This is a test to look for @#]$%(*&Y^% in text data';

print "found it\n" if ( $test =~ /\Q$seek\E/ );

##</code><code>##

s/(STARTDATE &) (STARTTIME)/$1 " " & $2/;

##</code><code>##

# don't try to match the paren explicitly -- use "." instead:

s/(utime.STARTDATE &) (STARTTIME)/$1 " " & $2/;

# or match it explicity, with an escape:

s/(utime\(STARTDATE &) (STARTTIME)/$1 " " & $2/;