I just want to preserve $_ deeper within the while{} block

The code shown has no effect on $_. Did you mean $1? If so, I can’t see any problem with using $1 at the top of the loop, then redefining it lower down as needed. However, if you do want to dispense with $1, you could use a named capture:

while ($data =~ /^(?<line>.*)$/gm)
{
    print "<3>" . $+{line} . "\n";
}

[download]

See Capture groups.

Hope that helps,

Athanasius <°(((>< contra mundum Iustus alius egestas vitae, eros Piratica,

In reply to Re: While behavior by Athanasius
in thread While behavior by SavannahLion

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