abdan:

If you want to keep it, then store it in a variable:

my $x = ....
do {
  if ($whole =~ /^(.*?)^(\*{5,}..?^\*SRC)/mscg) {
    print "\n=======\n".$1."\n=======\n".$2;
    $x = $2;
  }
} while($x);
[download]

The capture group variables are set every time you do a match. Can you imagine how annoying it would be if they weren't? Then you'd have to explicitly clear them before doing a match or you'd risk getting bits of old data mixed in with new data. The current automatic clearing of the group variables is a much better match to typical expected behavior.

...roboticus

When your only tool is a hammer, all problems look like your thumb.