my @found_files = grep (/$_jobcard_basename/,@temp); The @temp comtains /iri/irs-dev2/dairyassoc/job.trigger/RUNNING.sub-D625448-1.pdi_chs.xml /iri/irs-dev2/dairyassoc/job.trigger/RUNNING.sub-D625449-1.topline.chs.7821.1224800521.xml The $_jobcard_basename contains pdi_chs