system just returns success or failure, you cannot capture the output of the command you are running. Try backticks: 
my $date = `date +%x_%T`;

[download]
FWIW - you don't have to have the shell involved to do what you are attempting, there are many date functions/modules.

-- vek --

In reply to Re: Getting The Date Command to Redirect to File by vek
in thread Getting The Date Command to Redirect to File by dru145

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