Since the key is always the last word on the line, you can get it by using split (which defaults to splitting on whitespace) and then index the resulting list with [-1] to get the last word (if any). You can then push the key onto an array for later use:

use strict;
use warnings;
use Data::Dump;

my $first = 'dev';
my $last  = 'manage';
my $in    =  0;
my @keys;

while (<DATA>)
{
    if (defined(my $key = (split)[-1]))
    {
        if ($key eq $first .. $key eq $last)
        {
            $in = 1;
            push @keys, $key;
        }
        elsif ($in && $key eq 'manage')
        {
            push @keys, $key;
        }
        else
        {
            $in = 0;
        }
    }
}

dd @keys;

__DATA__
< as before >
[download]

Output:

17:42 >perl 1916_SoPW.pl
(
  "dev",
  "dev",
  "prod",
  "prod",
  "prod",
  "qa",
  "qa",
  "qa",
  "manage",
  "manage",
  "manage",
  "manage",
)

17:42 >
[download]

Note: the defined test is needed only if the input file might contain blank lines.

Hope that helps,

Ah thanks!! but the key is not the last word on the line!! in fact that was my previous comment, but I removed it since I figured a way to grep it from the middle of the line.The key column can be any where ,not necessarily last....what should be the adaptation now.

aaa23    fgfgdf    test    pppp    Released
bbb34    fgfgdf    test    pppp    Released
dfsad324    fgfgdf    test    pppp    Released
efdewr23    fgfgdf    dev    pppp    Released
dsarfew234    fgfgdf    dev    pppp    skip
dqewr2321    fgfgdf    prod    pppp    skip
sdsw32    fgfgdf    prod    pppp    Released
asdw234    fgfgdf    prod    pppp    Released
sadw2342    fgfgdf    qa    pppp    Released
deww234    fgfgdf    qa    pppp    Released
qdrqew234    fgfgdf    qa    pppp    block
swd234    fgfgdf    manage    pppp    Released
swdq234    fgfgdf    manage    pppp    Released
dfwfr43    fgfgdf    manage    pppp    Released
drqewr234    fgfgdf    manage    pppp    Released
[download]

2018-08-19 Athanasius added code tags

Hello again newperlbie,

(1) Please read Markup in the Monastery “Chapter 1” and update your post accordingly.

(2) “in fact that was my previous comment, but I removed it”

In future, please use <strike>...</strike> tags around discarded text rather than deleting it. Also clearly mark any updates as such. This will reduce the likelihood of confusion for responders to your posts.

(3) “I figured a way to grep it from the middle of the line.”

Good! (But then, why the next question?)

(4) “The key column can be any where ,not necessarily last....what should be the adaptation now.”

Can the key column change from one line to another? Is it guaranteed that the key words will never appear accidentally in non-key positions within a line? If so, you can just test for the presence of a keyword anywhere in the line with a simple regular expression:

while (<DATA>)
{
    if (/\b$first\b/ .. /\b$last\b/)
    {
        $in = 1;
        print;
    }
    elsif ($in && /\b$last\b/)
    {
        print;
    }
    else
    {
        $in = 0;
    }
}
[download]

(In a regex, \b matches a word boundary.)

Hope that helps,

Athanasius <°(((>< contra mundum

Iustus alius egestas vitae, eros Piratica,

newperlbie:   Further to Athanasius's post:   Please see How do I change/delete my post? for site etiquette and protocol regarding changes to your post.

(And yes, please do add  <code> ... </code> tags. :)

---

Give a man a fish:  <%-{-{-{-<