You simply want to chdir to the directory first: 
chdir("/project/server_name/web/catalog/orders")
  or die "Couldn't CD to orders directory: $!\n";
system("tar -cf tarred_orders.$year$month$mday.tar temp") == 0
  or die "Error running tar: exit status $?\n";

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In reply to Re: (OT) Linux/Perl Tar System Command by sgifford
in thread (OT) Linux/Perl Tar System Command by ccericks

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