I know how to do update dynamically using Javascript, but is it possible to use perl to grab the text contained within the specific file? Somehow pass the contents back to the Javascript?

Sure, but it takes a bit of hackery to get it working. Look at XML HTTP Request objects (external link). The XML is only used on the client side, so your CGI program won't need to parse the XML. IIRC, the CGI doesn't have to do anything special beyond what CGIs already do. The hoop-jumping happens on the client side.

Alternatively, you can have a tiny IFRAME that is refreshed by JavaScript and the text grabed out of that. This will probably work on more browsers than the XML Request, though I find it more asethetically pleasing than the IFRAME method.

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