I come from the same place as where you are at now.

I was a Windows Sys Admin for a while and started to "see if I could do it" using batch files. (Do it was all sorts of different mundane tasks.)

Some-one told me to look at Perl. - WOW.. I haven't looked back since. In fact I have put together a Auto Call Logging system that does correlation etc from a management system (TNG) to the Helpdesk system ARS. Writing in Perl has taken over everything I do at work..

My first thought is can I do it in Perl. Sometimes I am critisized for this as there are often quicker point and click methods for doing the same thing... But Perl is fast if not already becomming a passion for me.

I found several really helpful resources on the web for assistance in learning perl.

1. You have found this one already. PerlMonks

2. Roberts Perl Tutoiral

3. For Win32 Resources and he has 2 great books out Dave Roth

These have helped me more than I can repay. Hope they help you also.
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Of all the things I've lost in my life, its my mind I miss the most.