If you need to generate a unique filename, using a timestamp as a filename is usually the simplest method. Here are two cut and paste snippets you can use.

Plus for those who are concerned about two processes generating the same filename within the same second, appending the PID will keep them unique.

--
hiseldl
"Act better than you feel"

# Here's the plain jane, use "localtime" version that
# prepends "0" before all numbers that have only one digit
my @time = localtime();
$time[4]++; # convert from 0 based index to 1 based index
$time[5]-=100; # 2digits=subtract 100 or 4digits=add 1900
$time[$_] = $time[$_]<10? "0".$time[$_]:$time[$_] for (0..5);

my $filename = $time[5].$time[4].$time[3].$time[2].$time[1].$time[0];

# If you have POSIX this is a good alternative
use POSIX;
# %Y = 4 digit year and %y = 2 digit year
my $filename = strftime("%Y%m%d%H%M%S", localtime);


# To make sure that the filename is unique even if the fname
# is generated the same second, add the PID
$filename .= ".".$$;

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In reply to Timestamp as a Filename Collection by hiseldl

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