I am writing code that works with files, and I need to use the Input Record separator, $/. $/ is, obviously, set to a default of "\n". When I try to set it to another value, such as "ENDOFLINE" it stops working. That is when I try to print a single line it prints the entire file. It's as if it's take the value: undef . However, the interesting part is that when I print the actual VALUE of $/ it still prints ENDOFLINE

SUMMARY: 1) $/ has a value of "\n" and works perfectly UNTIL:
2) $/ is set to a new value. (ie "ENDOFLINE")
3) $/ appears to take the value of undef.
4) When $/ is read as a string, it appears to be correct! Ex: print "$/"; outputs the desired value: "ENDOFLINE" ALSO (just remembered) $/ functions as expected when it is set to a string of length 1 (such as "d" or "7")

I've asked on thescripts.com, and webdeveloper.com and nobody could find a problem with my code. I rewrote it, still didn't work. I took code from the blogs.perl.org tutorial that i learned perl from, and I experienced the same problem. My conclusion: $/ DOESN'T WORK!!! (?) Does anyone have any advice? My next step seems to be to uninstall and reinstall my perl engine. I thought I'd ask, first.

Thanks so much!

The code follows:

Well, here's the code. I figured that it hadn't helped so far, but you're right, rgiskard, i always helps.

Perl:

#!usr/bin/perl
use warnings;
use strict;
open(XMLFILE, "students.xml");
$/ = "</student>";
for (<XMLFILE>){
print $_;
print "ALALALALALALALA\n";
}
close(XMLFILE);

[download]

students.xml: (in the same directory, of course)

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<studentlist>
<class id="Geography">
<student>
<name>Lexi</name>
<gender>F</gender>
</student> 
<student>
<name>Nelle</name>
<gender>F</gender>
</student> 
<student>
<name>Josh</name>
<gender>M</gender>
</student> 
<student>
<name>Jason</name>
<gender>M</gender>
</student> 
<student>
<name>Ben</name>
<gender>M</gender>
</student> 
<student>
<name>Larry</name>
<gender>M</gender>
</student>
</class> 
<class id="English">
<student>
<name>Caleb</name>
<gender>M</gender>
</student> 
<student>
<name>Emily</name>
<gender>F</gender>
</student> 
<student>
<name>Adelle</name>
<gender>F</gender>
</student> 
<student>
<name>Mike</name>
<gender>M</gender>
</student> 
</class>
</studentlist>

[download]

OUTPUT:

imac:~/begperl J$ perl abc.plx
??<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<studentlist>
<class id="Geography">
<student>
<name>Lexi</name>
<gender>F</gender>
</student> 
<student>
<name>Nelle</name>
<gender>F</gender>
</student> 
<student>
<name>Josh</name>
<gender>M</gender>
</student> 
<student>
<name>Jason</name>
<gender>M</gender>
</student> 
<student>
<name>Ben</name>
<gender>M</gender>
</student> 
<student>
<name>Larry</name>
<gender>M</gender>
</student>
</class> 
<class id="English">
<student>
<name>Caleb</name>
<gender>M</gender>
</student> 
<student>
<name>Emily</name>
<gender>F</gender>
</student> 
<student>
<name>Adelle</name>
<gender>F</gender>
</student> 
<student>
<name>Mike</name>
<gender>M</gender>
</student> 
</class>
</studentlist>ALALALALALALALA
imac:~/begperl J$

[download]

The "perl -v" command returns: This is perl, v5.8.6 built for darwin-thread-multi-2level

In reply to Input Record Separator WON'T WORK! by stalepretzel

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