# open a file for reading in the current directory
open(FILEHANDLE,"< some_file");

# open a file for reading using the full path (always a good idea)
open(FILEHANDLE,"< /home/my_user/some_file");

# open a file for writing
open(FILEHANDLE,"> /home/my_user/some_file");

# append to the end of a file
open(FILEHANDLE,">> /home/my_user/some_file");

# and it's always a good idea to check for failures ($! contains the e
+rror message)
open(FILEHANDLE,"< /home/my_user/some_file") || die "Can't read file: 
+$!";

# be polite and close the file when you're done :)
close(FILEHANDLE);
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All this stuff is explained in greater detail in the docs that come with perl, or any perl book.

# by the way

# read a line from a file
$line = <FILEHANDLE>;

# write something to a file
print FILEHANDLE "some line of text\n";
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/\/\averick