I am trying what you suggested (and thank you!) but its not working. I want to replace this code: 
<snipped the _TOP>

format STDOUT =
@<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
+<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<  @<<<<<<< @<<<<<<<      @<<<<<<<<<<<<<
<<<<<<<<<<  @||||||||||||||||||| @##.##
$sfile,                                                               
+                                $user,   $grp,        $gcos,
           dateme($mod,$mod2), $sz
~~
.

[download]

with this code 

my $format  = "format STDOUT = \n"
         . '@' . '<' x 125 . $sfile             . q{  }
         . '@' . '<' x 8   . $user              . q{  }
         . '@' . '<' x 8   . $grp               . q{  }
         . '@' . '<' x 25  . $gcos              . q{  }
         . '@' . '|' x 20  . dateme($mod,$mod2) . q{  }
         . '@' . '#' x 2 . '.##' . $sz . "\n"
         . "~~\n"
         . ".\n" ;

[download]

And the errors I am getting are: 

Use of uninitialized value in concatenation (.) or string at find_hog.
+tdy line 49.
Use of uninitialized value in concatenation (.) or string at find_hog.
+tdy line 49.
Use of uninitialized value in concatenation (.) or string at find_hog.
+tdy line 49.
Use of uninitialized value in concatenation (.) or string at find_hog.
+tdy line 49.
Use of uninitialized value in localtime at find_hog.tdy line 105.
Use of uninitialized value in concatenation (.) or string at find_hog.
+tdy line 49.

format STDOUT =
@<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
+<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<  @<<<<<<<<  
+@<<<<<<<<  @<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<  @||||||||||||||||||||19:00:00-
+12/31/69  @##.##
~~
.
Undefined format "STDOUT" called at find_hog.tdy line 227.

[download]

Do I use a regular write? I am confused on how write knows about $format?

In reply to Re^2: format characters by mikejones
in thread format characters by mikejones

Title:
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