In order for pos() to work, he'll need to add a /g modifer. It only works on "global" matches.

Also, it's not the scalars $+ and $- which would be of interest but the arrays @+ and @- which would be. Finally, $+[0] and $-[0] are both useful even without any capturing because they hold offsets from the entire match.

In his case, $-[0] is exactly what he needs.

-sauoq
"My two cents aren't worth a dime.";