# open up MYFILE for writing open(MYFILE,">myfile.txt") or die "Can't open up myfile: $!\n"; my ($name,$age, $salary) = ('girl', '21', '12'); # now this line format will automatically apply to MYFILE format MYFILE = @>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> @>>>>>>>>>>>>>> $name, $salary . format MYFILE_TOP = ----------------------------------- Name Salary ----------------------------------- . write MYFILE; select(STDOUT); $~ = "MYFILE"; write; #write to STDOUT