Hi all,

I have been experimenting with formats and was wondering if it's possible to...
a) Define a format
b) Invoke it thru a file handle
then
c) Write the contents of the file handle to a variable rather than the file system

This is as far as I've got when I and everything seems ok 

#!/usr/bin/perl


format INVOICE = 

+---------------------------------------------------------------------
+--------+
   Invoice To                                     Invoice From        
+          
   @<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<                 The Get Rich Quick C
+o.            
   $name

   Address
   @*                                                                 
+          
   $address
   
   Description:                                        Cost:
   @<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< @###.##
   $description                                        £$cost
+---------------------------------------------------------------------
+--------+
.

open(INVOICE,">print-invoice");
$name = "Another Sucker";
$address = "Address 1\nAddress2\nXX11 9DJ";
$description = "another mug to help us swell our coffers";
$cost = 999.99;
write (INVOICE);

[download]


This works fine apart from the @* denoting a multiline field y/n? gets fed into the output.(any ideas why?) But what I'd like to do is assign it to a variable to use in a template or a 'here document' for instance

I've tried adding stuff like $invoice =<INVOICE> but this doesn't seem to work

Many thanks

Stew

In reply to FORMATS, filehandle and variables by stew

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