The correct answer is "binmode() the filehandle".

This kind of question comes up again and again and "binmode() the filehandle" is almost always the right answer. For those who have seen it or suffered from it before some, or all, of the following keywords will prompt the right answer: Windows, binary, file, problem, corrupt.

Corion for example got the right answer although the question was effectively nonsense.

So look out for it. It will come up again.

--
John.