The searchlist to tr is generated at compile-time, so you can't use variables and expect them to be interpolated at run-time.

In the docs: 

    Note that because the translation table is built at compile
    time, neither the SEARCHLIST nor the REPLACEMENTLIST
    are subjected to double quote interpolation.  That means
    that if you want to use variables, you must use an eval():

        eval "tr/$oldlist/$newlist/";
        die $@ if $@;
        
        eval "tr/$oldlist/$newlist/, 1" or die $@;

[download]
So you'll have to use eval for that. In which case, you may get better performance using s/// anyway; you'll have to benchmark it to check.

In reply to Re: Using variables with tr/// by btrott
in thread Using variables with tr/// by greenhorn

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