The 3 argument file open is "open HANDLE DIRECTION FILENAME". I wanted to have a "generic" open that supports both STDOUT as well as user-defined file names. I could not figure out a way to assign the pre-defined file handles STDOUT (& STDIN) to a filename that would work with the 3 argument file open.

here is the best that i could do : 

my ($file,$wFH);
if ( @ARGV ) { $file = shift; }
else         { $file = "STDOUT"; }


my $message = "this is a test\n";

if ( $file ne "STDOUT" ) {
    open $wFH, ">", $file
      or die;
} else {
    $wFH = *STDOUT;
}
print $wFH $message;

[download]

i was hoping to eliminate the IF block for opening a file. since this allows me to write to either STDOUT or a file, i have "generic" write stmts but not a "generic" open.

is there a better way? thanks

In reply to assign File Handles to Scalar Variables by Anonymous Monk

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