Don't assign the return of print, just assign the value of the index array element: 

my $field = $fields[0];
print "$field\n";

[download]

But why not just use Perl's awk mode instead? 

echo '2014-06-04T15:24:21-05:00 syslog_dp [0x80e00099][ftp][error] sec
+ure-backup(FBB): trans(5487)' | perl -lape '$_=$F[0]'

[download]

jeffa

L-LL-L--L-LL-L--L-LL-L--
-R--R-RR-R--R-RR-R--R-RR
B--B--B--B--B--B--B--B--
H---H---H---H---H---H---
(the triplet paradiddle with high-hat)

In reply to Re^4: Simple awk question by jeffa
in thread Simple awk question by czah7

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