Consider this code: 
#!/usr/local/bin/perl -w
use strict;
   my $last = "";
   my $first = "";
   my $middle = "";

   ( $last, $first )   = split /,/ , 'thumb,tom' ;
   print "last:($last)  first($first) middle($middle)\n";

   ( $first, $middle ) = split / / , $first ;
   print "last:($last)  first($first) middle($middle)\n";

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And what it outputs: 
gonzo:/export/home/fredk/: ./bar.pl 
last:(thumb)  first(tom) middle()
Use of uninitialized value at ./bar.pl line 11.
last:(thumb)  first(tom) middle()

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Does it make sense that warnings would complain about $middle not being initialized? In my case (the above is simplified) there are some records where there is <NULL> for $middle and others where $middle is defined. So when I print $middle and it is <NULL>, that's WIM (What I Mean).

Suggested work arounds?

-------------------------------------
Nothing is too wonderful to be true
-- Michael Faraday

In reply to Complaints from Warnings about uninitialized var by freddo411

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