Here is a less memory-intensive/minimalist alternative (untested): 
open PROFILE,   "<  profile/file/name"  or die "can't open profile fil
+e: $!";

my %finishedusers;

while (<PROFILE>) {
  my @pieces = split /:/;
  next unless @pieces > 8; # Only match lines containing >8 ":"'s
  $finishedusers{$pieces[0]} = $pieces[7];
} 
close PROFILE;

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    ...each is assigned his own private delusion but he cannot see the baggage on his own back.

In reply to Re: Pattern Matching Question by NetWallah
in thread Pattern Matching Question by gsr

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