final self answer ... it works now

     if ($opt_f eq '') {
             print "Please enter the OUTPUT filename [defaults to scre
+en]: ";
             $output_filename = <STDIN>;     
             chomp($output_filename);
             if ($output_filename eq '') {

             } else {
                    # open(SAVOUT, ">&STDOUT"); # save the stdout fhan
+dle
                     open(STDOUT,">" . $output_filename);
                     select(STDOUT);  # force a flush on stdout so tha
+t any output will be in sync.
                     $| = 1;
             }
     } elsif ($opt_f ne "DEFAULT") {
             $output_filename = $opt_f;
             #open(SAVOUT, ">&STDOUT"); # save the stdout fhandle
             open(STDOUT,">" . $output_filename);
             select(STDOUT);  # force a flush on stdout so that any ou
+tput will be in sync.
             $| = 1;


     }
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maybe someone else will get some mileage out of this i know i use perlmonks as a reference all the time <g>

Originally posted as a Categorized Answer.