my $prev_file_name;
my $file;
while(1)
{
   my $new_line = get_line_of_code();
   my $line_time = get_date_stamp($new_line);

   my $file_name = "$DATA_DIRECTORY$line_time.ascii";
   if (defined($prev_file_name) and $prev_file_name != $file_name) {
      close($file) if defined $file;
      open $file, '>>', $file_name
        or print "$file_name could not be created\n";
   }

   #add line to $NEW_FILE
   print $file $new_line."\n"
     or print "data COULDNT be printed to CURRENT_FILE\n";

   # This bit seems to be related to code you've pruned from
   # your example...
   #} else {
   #   #write to file and send
   #   $file = $fileholder[0];
   #   print $file $new_line;
   #}
} #end of while loop