I'm trying to match a description field from an external file and pick records that match certain patterns in that field. The piece that is baffling me is this. ... 
    if ($desc =~ /;FTP*:*/)
    {
      $txn_type = 4 ;
      print "Desc before changing: $desc \n";    
....
    }

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What I was expecting this to do is match fields like

;FTP : Foreign Tax Withheld

;FTP : File Transfer to server etc.

But it's picking up desc that is ;FTR :Foreign Tax Reclaim

Here's the output of the print statement in my code above

Desc before changing: ;FTR :Foreign Tax Reclaim (BASFY)

Desc before changing: ;FTR :Foreign Tax Reclaim (SIEGY)

Desc before changing: ;FTR :Foreign Tax Reclaim (SIEGY)

Desc before changing: ;FTR :Foreign Tax Reclaim (DDAIY)

How is /;FTP*:*/ matching the lines above? What am I doing wrong here?

In reply to string matching by amitvalia

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