GhodMode, there is a subtle race-condition in your example. Since you are calling localtime twice, it could potentially return two different values. For instance, say you ran the code right as the clock struck ten: 

my $current_hour = strftime( "%H", localtime() ); # say it's 9:59, so 
+"9" is returned.
# ... your process is switched off the processor...
my $current_minute = strftime( "%M", localtime() ); # now it's 10:00, 
+so "00" is returned.

[download]
Now your code would act as if it's 9:00pm, when in fact it's 10:00pm. Not trying to nit-pick, but I just couldn't help noticing... ;-)

If it were me, I would keep the "closing time" in 24-hour format (I realize the OP doesn't in his/her example) and completely forgo the use of strftime: 

#my $store_close = "7:05 PM";

my $store_close = "19:05";
my ($close_hour, $close_minute) = split( /:/, $store_close );
my ($current_minute, $current_hour) = (localtime)[1,2];

[download]

In reply to Re^2: Comparing a string value's time with the computers time by crashtest
in thread Comparing a string value's time with the computers time by Anonymous Monk

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