Thanks! I just ran into that little bit :D.

However, I read the perldoc about substr, and I get the idea. Now my question is, what modifies the string? substr just locates the particular part of the string I want to single out, then what?

#!/usr/bin/perl

use strict;
use warnings;


main(@ARGV);

sub main
{
    
    open(FH, "gtype.txt");
    while( my $line = <FH> ) {
        my $line = substr($line,1);
        printf $line;
}

}

    close FH;
[download]

It works!! now what can I use to replace the printf, to use to delete?

now what can I use to replace the printf, to use to delete?

You have now entered a situation i dont like. You seem to want to want to replace the original file. for the most part i dont like to do that (at first). I dont like to modify my only copy of the original data. What i do instead is write a new file, then use the new file in later processing.

use strict;
use warnings;


main(@ARGV);

sub main
{
    
    open(my $in ,'<', "gtype.txt");
    open(my $out ,'>', "fixed-gtype.txt");
    while( my $line = <$in> ) {
        my $line = substr($line,1);
        print $out $line;
}

}

    close $in;
    close $out;
[download]

Note also the change from printf to print. You should read about what printf does in regards to the first argument being a format. What you wanted instead was print.

Wow, I'm thinking I have a lot to learn. I was with you until the in, out deal. I never even considered that I had to use something like that. You're right, I shouldn't have been thinking about making a change to the original copy.

I tried the code, and it works, but it will only work if I comment out use strict mode. Otherwise, I'm getting errors on declarations. I'm currently trying to figure out how to declare this code correctly. As I said, the code works like a charm, but I want to see if I can at least get the declarations correct. :/.

I learned a few things with this, but I wouldn't have come close to figuring this out without you guys. Thanks!

Subject to huck's well placed concerns about moving files on lists that haven't been manually inspected, look up rename or File::Copy. It's very easy to use these powerful tools to torpedo yourself.

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#11929 First ask yourself `How would I do this without a computer?' Then have the computer do it the same way.