kenosis said:
Since close FILE is the last statement in the second script, the ; is optional.
The semi-colon is only option if it's omitted from the last line of your code. As the OP pointed out, the last line of the code doesn't stay that way for very long; there is always one more subroutine to be added.

I view the 'optional' semi-colon the same way I view the 'optional' comma on the last item of a list. I just know that I'll want to add something else later, and since the Perl compiler is forgiving, I just add it automatically.

Nota Bene: Just because I know that some particular piece of punctuation is optional (in the sense that the Compiler does the right thing if it is present or absent) doesn't automatically mean that I will remember when I am debugging a problem at O'Dark-Hundred with the entire site down. Don't leave land-mines lying around for the next person to stumble over two years later, it may be you....

Update =====
Added the quote from kenosis

----
I Go Back to Sleep, Now.

OGB

In reply to Re^2: Why is this script giving syntax errors? by Old_Gray_Bear
in thread Why is this script giving syntax errors? by cspctec

Title:
Use:  <p> text here (a paragraph) </p>
and:  <code> code here </code>
to format your post, it's "PerlMonks-approved HTML":


  • Posts are HTML formatted. Put <p> </p> tags around your paragraphs. Put <code> </code> tags around your code and data!
  • Titles consisting of a single word are discouraged, and in most cases are disallowed outright.
  • Read Where should I post X? if you're not absolutely sure you're posting in the right place.
  • Please read these before you post! —
  • Posts may use any of the Perl Monks Approved HTML tags:
    a, abbr, b, big, blockquote, br, caption, center, col, colgroup, dd, del, details, div, dl, dt, em, font, h1, h2, h3, h4, h5, h6, hr, i, ins, li, ol, p, pre, readmore, small, span, spoiler, strike, strong, sub, summary, sup, table, tbody, td, tfoot, th, thead, tr, tt, u, ul, wbr
  • You may need to use entities for some characters, as follows. (Exception: Within code tags, you can put the characters literally.)
            For:     Use:
    & &amp;
    < &lt;
    > &gt;
    [ &#91;
    ] &#93;
  • Link using PerlMonks shortcuts! What shortcuts can I use for linking?
  • See Writeup Formatting Tips and other pages linked from there for more info.