open(FILE, 'my_file.txt');
while ($line = <FILE>) {
     @line_parts = split(/\|/, $line);
     print "<br>$line_parts[0]\n";
}
close(FILE);

##</code><code>##

1.1.2|W|foo|abc

##</code><code>##

1.1.2

##</code><code>##

$delimiter = "\|";
.....
     @line_parts = split(/$delimiter/, $line);


##</code><code>##

1

##</code><code>##

$delimiter = "|";
.....
@line_parts = split(/\$delimiter/, $line);