• perlintro
• split
• perlretut

• Use Text::CSV to read your file and to split lines into individual fields.
• Use regular expressions to test for valid field values.
• For testing the dates use something like DateTime.

this is very helpful. Is it possible that I can get some code to start with, I am just starting Perl and have done this so far.

#!/usr/bin/perl
use strict;
use warnings;

my $file = $ARGV[0] or die "Need to get CSV file on the command line\n
+";

 open (FILE, $file);
 while (<FILE>) {
 chomp;
 ($emp, $dt, $account, $baldue, $credit, $netarrears, $locno, $devno, 
+$parkbal,
$rentnoretro, $maintbal, $legbal, $otherbal, $retrobal, $chu, $mk, $bu
+ildno, $mo
veoutdt, $status, $legal, $legdt) = split("\t");
 print "$dt  $account  $baldue  $credit $netarrears $locno\n";
 }
[download]

Close!

(Assuming parent post is by OP, Ma): you have a space inside the name of one of your variables, $mo veoutdt. But that's harder than need be to spot, since you failed to follow the guidance at the text-input box, namely -- use code and para tags.

As to your other code problems, you've invoked strict,(and, very wisely), but without honoring one of its key strictures, declaring variables with a my (or our etc). The error messages should have given you a direction to repair the problem, though there were so many you may have found them overwhelming (go forth and sin no more).

Here's your code, modified to use data rather than a file and truncated for simplicity and clarity:

#!/usr/bin/perl 
use strict; 
use warnings; 

my ($dt, $account, $baldue);

while (<DATA>) { 
    chomp; 
    ($dt, $account, $baldue) = split /\t/;   # shorter, more standard.
+ was:   split("\t"); 
    print "$dt | $account | $baldue \n"; 
} 

=head OUTPUT

4-11-13 273.13 273.13
20130512 11.17 36.14
09222013 2,479.00 6,481.16

=cut

__DATA__
4-11-13    273.13    273.13
20130512    11.17    36.14
09222013    2,479.00    6,481.16
[download]

Check the documentation of the modules I recommended. There is some sample code there.

Also please use code tags to make your posts more readible.

It took a while but eventually it sank in: Ma and the AM who wrote Split Tab separated text file into valid and invalid records (presumed to be the same person) asked two quite distinct questions. My past node replied to the AM, whilst ignoring the specs in the top node.

So (JBIC & because I have time-on-my-hands awaiting a particular event), herewith, a solution that satisfies both (I think) in one (didactic) script:

#!/usr/bin/perl 
use strict; 
use warnings; 

# 1055276   (see also my splitTOscalars.pl)
# OP valid: $dt (AKA 'name')is alpha , datefield using slashes, balanc
+edue field is numeric
# second post as AM: split problems

my ($dt, $account, $baldue);

while (<DATA>) { 
    chomp; 
    ($dt, $account, $baldue) = split/\t/;   # was:   split("\t"); 
    if ($dt =~ /[A-Z]+/i && $account =~ /^[\d\/]+$/ && $baldue =~ /^[\
+d.,]+$/) {
        print "\n VALID per OP: \$dt: $dt | \$account: $account | \$ba
+ldue: $baldue \n\n"; 
    }elsif ($dt =~ /[a-z]+/) {
        print "Invalid: $dt -|- $account -|- $baldue \n";
    }else {
        print "\nValid  per #1055280 \$dt, \$account, \$baldue:  $dt, 
+$account, $baldue\n"; 
    }
} 

=head OUTPUT  

Valid  per #1055280 $dt, $account, $baldue:  4-11-13, 273.13, 273.13

Valid  per #1055280 $dt, $account, $baldue:  20130512, 11.17, 36.14

Valid  per #1055280 $dt, $account, $baldue:  09222013, 2479.00, 6481.1
+6

 VALID per OP: $dt: xyz | $account: 09/30/2013 | $baldue: 500

Invalid: abc -|- 09/30/2013 -|- YYN
Invalid: del -|- hfhfh -|- 200

=cut

__DATA__
4-11-13    273.13    273.13
20130512    11.17    36.14
09222013    2479.00    6481.16
xyz    09/30/2013    500
abc    09/30/2013    YYN
del    hfhfh    200
[download]

thank you very much, this is what I was looking for. Regards Ma

I'm (almost, sorta') glad you found this helpful... but

next time, please be "looking for" learning (How do I post a question effectively? ) rather than free code.