The module Text::CSV_XS parses records using an XS module, which may be faster than a pure Perl solution. It can handle tab-delimited files as well: 
use Text::CSV_XS;
$csv = Text::CSV_XS->new( sep_char => "\t");
$columns_ref = $csv->getline($io);

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-Mark

In reply to Re: Need to process a tab delimted file *FAST* by kvale
in thread Need to process a tab delimted file *FAST* by devnul

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