It looks like this is a version issue. I tracked down the 5.8.0 documentation, and according to that version of perlopentut, it looks like three-argument open and indirect file handles were not yet implemented.

No, the code posted only requires perl 5.6.0

If OP is getting an error he is not using perl 5.8.0

In reply to Re^4: Undefined value as a symbol reference by Anonymous Monk
in thread Undefined value as a symbol reference by link867

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