#open CSV for input
open my $CSVIN, '<', $file;
foreach (<$CSVIN>){
#split CSV into usable format
#the real script has about ten variables
(my $input1, $input2, $input3, $file_out) = split(/,/,$_);
    open my $TEMPLATEIN, '<', $path_to_template;
    open my $FHOUT, '>', $file_out;
    foreach (<$TEMPLATEIN>){
           #search and replace in the template
           # where $search_pattern = arbitrary identifier
           #in the template, I've been using:
           #<<<Variable_1>>>
           #again I have about twelve 
           $_ =~ s/$search_pattern1/$input1/g;
           $_ =~ s/$search_pattern2/$input2/g;
           $_ =~ s/$search_pattern3/$input3/g;
           print $FHOUT $_;
    } # end s/r from template
    close($FHOUT);
    close($TEMPLATEIN)
} # end iteration through CSV