While `cat $myfile` isn't that efficient, it shouldn't hang your program. What you're seeing is consistent with $myfile containing something funny, like an empty string, a dash, or possibly spaces; is that possible?

Update: Fix typo (dash not dasy)


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sgifford's Web page

In reply to Re: `cat $myfile`; vs. open(MYHANDLE, "myfile") by sgifford
in thread `cat $myfile`; vs. open(MYHANDLE, "myfile") by bw

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