Yes. Also, depending upon the OPs reqs, it might be better to use sysread rather than read. Most file format specs are in terms of bytes not chars.

I'm never quite sure whether Perl will start treating input as unicode without a specific request on an open to do so? For example, does it recognise BOMs in an input stream and act upon them?

Examine what is said, not who speaks -- Silence betokens consent -- Love the truth but pardon error.
"Science is about questioning the status quo. Questioning authority".
In the absence of evidence, opinion is indistinguishable from prejudice.
"Too many [] have been sedated by an oppressive environment of political correctness and risk aversion."

In reply to Re^3: seek() functionality on pipes by BrowserUk
in thread seek() functionality on pipes by HKS

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