I wouldn't recommend slurping the files, since you want to look at individual lines. Just go through the files one by one, checking each file line-by-line. Since you're looking for design guidance rather than code, the logic would go something like this: 

create a hash which has the keywords to watch for as its keys
foreach file (probably using File::Find) do
    open file (error check)
    foreach line in file
        split the line into fields
        is the first field from this line in my hash of important keyw
+ords?
            if yes, are there empty or dash fields in this line?
                if yes, report this file
                           (and keyword and/or line number, optionally
+)
                    and move on to next file
    end of lines
    close file
end of files

[download]

Take a look at File::Find; all the indented code above would be part of the callback you'd pass to File::Find's find() method.

Aaron B.
Available for small or large Perl jobs and *nix system administration; see my home node.

In reply to Re: Perl beginner here, needs a shove in the right direction. by aaron_baugher
in thread Perl beginner here, needs a shove in the right direction. by rfromp

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