# solution 2, using text:csv_xs use Text::CSV_XS; my $csv = Text::CSV_XS->new(); $count=0; my $file = 'PS0002_9_2006b.txt'; if (defined $ARGV[0]) { $file = $ARGV[0]; } my $sum = 0; open(my $data, '<', $file) or die "Could not open '$file'\n"; while (my $line = <$data>) { chomp $line; exit if ($count >= 20); $count++; if ($csv->parse($line)) { my @columns = $csv->fields(); $sum += $columns[2]; } else { warn "Line could not be parsed: $line\n"; } } print "$sum\n"; # end solution 2_______________________