#!/usr/bin/perl -w use strict; while () { chomp; my ($time, $type) = split(/:>/,$_); if ($type =~ m/\s*FIND/) { print "I need to something with: $time\n"; } } #PRINTS: #I need to something with: 7/21/2009 5:49:20 PM #I need to something with: 7/21/2009 5:52:59 PM __DATA__ 7/21/2009 5:47:29 PM:> DATA 7/21/2009 5:48:49 PM:> DATA1 7/21/2009 5:49:20 PM:> FIND 7/21/2009 5:50:39 PM:> DATA3 7/21/2009 5:51:29 PM:> DATA4 7/21/2009 5:52:59 PM:> FIND 7/21/2009 5:53:19 PM:> DATA6