#!/usr/bin/perl

use strict;

use Getopt::Mixed;

use vars qw|$opt_u $opt_x $opt_m|;
# Note that you have to use globals...

Getopt::Mixed::getOptions( qq|u=s x:i m:i| );
# Option u wants (mandatory) a string
# Option x accepts (not mandatory) an integer
# Option m too...

die "Hey man, you have to provide an username!\n" unless $opt_u ;
print "Option 'u' is $opt_u\n";
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What makes Getopt::Mixed interesting is the possibility to specify longer synonyms for options. So, you can change a line of the script in this way:

Getopt::Mixed::getOptions( qq|u=s username>u x:i m:i| );
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# getopt.pl -u larsen
Option 'u' is larsen

# getopt.pl --username larsen
Option 'u' is larsen

Update: Added an error message in case the user does not provide -u option

You can do something like that:

use Getopt::Std;
getopts('u:x:m:', \%Opts)
$file = $Opts{'f'} or die "Where is your file?";
$x = $Opts{'x'};
$m = $Opts{'m'};
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You should look at your code and simply extend the existing functionality using which ever method is being used already (likely Getopt::Std), unless you expect your argument parsing requirements to become substantially more complex, in which case the modules suggested by mfriedman and larsen will be of interest.

On a related note, I notice that you have posted a number of SoPW's simply asking fellow Monks to craft code to solve (what appear to be related) problems.
You should make the effort to understand the code you are faced with, then try to resolve the problem yourself - post your attempts, even if they are faulty!
You should find that as you spend more time attempting to fix your own problems you should become familiar with basic functions and modules and it will much easier for you to program once you have that understanding.

Cheers.

BazB

#!/usr/bin/perl
use warnings;
use strict;

my $usage = "Usage: script -u username -x xval(optional) -m mval(optio
+nal)\n";
my $username=undef;
my $xvalue=undef;
my $mvalue=undef;

while(@ARGV){
   my $argin = shift;
   if ($argin =~ /-u/){$username= shift}
   if ($argin =~ /-x/){$xvalue=shift}
   if ($argin =~ /-m/){$mvalue =shift}
}

if ( !defined $username ){print $usage;exit;}
print "username = $username\n -x = $xvalue\n -m = $mvalue\n";
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$var_for_opt_a = defined($opt_a) ? $opt_a : "some default value";
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thor