If you really need to convert to UTF-8 (and I would try IlyaM's suggestion first) , you might be interested in the Encode module. It's in the 5.8.0 distribution.

from the manpage:

         $string = decode(ENCODING, $octets [, CHECK])
         Decodes a sequence of octets assumed to be in ENCODING
         into Perl's internal form and returns the resulting
         string.  As in encode(), ENCODING can be either a canon-
         ical name or an alias. For encoding names and aliases,
         see "Defining Aliases".  For CHECK, see "Handling Mal-
         formed Data".
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I've only played with this a little, but 5.8 (5.8.0 RC2 that is) seems to be a lot more stable when you use utf8; so it might be your best best.

-- 
Joost       downtime n. The period during which a system
            is error-free and immune from user input.
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