This is not quite what the OP asked. From perlrun: 

-i[extension]
            specifies that files processed by the `<>' construct
            are to be edited in-place.  It does this by renaming
            the input file, opening the output file by the
            original name, and selecting that output file as the
            default for print() statements.  The extension, if
            supplied, is used to modify the name of the old file
            to make a backup copy, following these rules:

[download]
Meaning that -i basically does the same 'trick': open for read, edit, write back.

In reply to Re: Re: Edit File in place by spurperl
in thread Edit File in place by RollyGuy

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