tr is not the right tool here. 

if ($desc =~ m#((?:\S+\s*){1,30})#) {
    $first_30 = $1;
} else {
    # Didn't match here
}

[download]

-dlc

In reply to Re: 30 Spaces- 1 question by dchetlin
in thread 30 Spaces- 1 question by AgentM

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