seems like you're trying to parse XML? why don't you try something like XML::Simple

or maybe this will work:

  while ($ts=~ s|(?<=<item name=\"DISPLAY_ORDER\"><value>)\d+(?=\<\/va
+lue><\/item><item name=\"PARAGRAPH_TEXT\">)|$paranum|si ) { 
  print "Set PNum: $paranum\n";
  $paranum++;
  }
[download]

(?<=... does a prematch, and (?=... does a postmatch.. and only changes the digit.

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