glob problem...

LFonseca has asked for the wisdom of the Perl Monks concerning the following question:

I have a function in an external file called with require:

sub dvdr1_readvarsfromfile
{
    my($filename, $fn);
    
    &dvdr1_initblankvars;
    $filename=$numerodaficha;
    if (length($filename)<6){
        if ($filename<10) {$filename="00000".$filename}
        elsif ($filename<100) {$filename="0000".$filename}
        elsif ($filename<1000) {$filename="000".$filename}
        elsif ($filename<10000) {$filename="00".$filename}
        elsif ($filename<100000) {$filename="0".$filename}
    }
    $codnum=$filename;
    
    if ($_[0] eq ""){
        $filename=glob("$dvdr1orderdb_path\/$codnum.*");
    }
    else{
        $filename="$_[0]";
    }
    open (DB, "$filename") || (&erro("$!") && die);
    $fn=$filename;

...
[download]

The problem here is the glob:

when I call:

&dvdr1_readvarsfromfile the first time, the glob always finds the correct file.

When I call it the second time, even though I'm looking for a different file, and the value of $numerodaficha is different, glob always returns blank. Why and how can I solve it?

Thanks!

Edit kudra, 2001-10-02 Moved plaintext out of code tags

Comment on glob problem... Download Code

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Re: glob problem... by jeroenes (Priest) on Oct 01, 2001 at 13:00 UTC
How odd this may seem, it is a documented function of glob. From the docs: A glob evaluates its (embedded) argument only when it is starting a new list. All values must be read before it will start over. In a list context this isn't important, because you automatically get them all anyway. In a scalar context, however, the operator returns the next value each time it is called, or a FALSE value if you've just run out. Again, FALSE is returned only once. So if you're expecting a single value from a glob, it is much better to say `($file) = <blurch>;` HTH, Jeroen "We are not alone"(FZ)*	[reply] [d/l]
Re: glob problem... by snowcrash (Friar) on Oct 01, 2001 at 13:09 UTC
one comment on your code: to zeropad a number better use something like `my $paddednum = sprintf "%06d", $num;` than that if/elsif constructs... look into the docs for printf and sprintf in perlfunc. cheers snowcrash	[reply] [d/l]
Re: glob problem... by LFonseca (Initiate) on Oct 01, 2001 at 15:10 UTC
Yes, I am looking for only a file. Your solution worked, thanks. Also, I had already figured out the ifs where not a good solutions :)	[reply]