substr would definately work, don't get me wrong, but just because this guy seems to be doing things in a regex sort of manner already, and it just so happens that I love regexs very much, I thought I would throw this little tidbet out there.

$fname = 'thomas';
$fname =~ /^(\w{1})/;
[download]

$1 is now equal to "t" hence the answer he was looking for. TrAdEz Awwww the power of perlre