re 2nd obv

@array in scalar context is the number of elements in the array. $#array is the index of the last element. ie

$#array = @array -1;
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My only observation here is that:

for ($i=0; $i <@filenames; $i++)
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is a little 'cleaner'.

re 3rd obv

Doesn't have to, as it's the last statement in a coding block. But, it *is* a good habit to get into.

re uncallous comment

"try debugging your code" - perhaps you could spend an extra minute or two checking your answer before ranting :)

cLive ;-)

PS - blame any lette ommissions on my dodgy keyboad which will get eplaced soon...

Update:

PPS - try removing first print statement (why is it there?). I suggest you move the second to just above your output line (print <<EndHTML;). Other notes...

# For tidyness, change:
\*\*\*\*

# in your regexp, to:
\*{4}

# for sanity control, change
open(PAGES, "<pages.txt");

# to
open(PAGES, "<pages.txt") || die $!;

# (and do the same for you other filehandle opens)

# and I'm pretty sure that
print FILE QQ($temlate[0] ...

# should be
print FILE qq($temlate[0] ...
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And, to finish, I strongly suggest you use CGI.pm