This code looks for non-blank lines between and including lines starting with VAT and DESCRIPTION. So throw away those lines and any blank lines. The "trick" then comes down to figuring out when the address ends. If it is possible to write a simple regex that fits a UK postal code, then no state machine is required (when you see the postal code, the address record is done). Below I threw in an extra line feed when I see the postal code. Many variations are possible! Anyway, just an idea for you... Maybe this doesn't work if postal code is too variable and of course you'll have to refine my regex... But maybe this will spark another idea?
while (<DATA>) { if (( /^VAT/.../^DESCRIPTION/) && (!/^s*$/)) { next if /^VAT/; next if /^DESCRIPTION/; print; #these are the address lines print "\n" if (/\w+\d \d/); #the trick is to see #when address is done, eg a postal code } } __END__ prints: Miss Carol Hocker 177 Elm Road, Brighton East Sussex BN2 7HB Mr Whatever 177 Elm Road, Brighton East Sussex BN2 7HB __DATA__ Invoice Invoice No: C0331-2008 Invoice Date:27/02/2008 VAT No: 679 7113 03 Miss Carol Hocker 177 Elm Road, Brighton East Sussex BN2 7HB DESCRIPTION blah..blah Invoice No: C0331-2008 Invoice Date:27/02/2008 VAT No: 679 999 03 Mr Whatever 177 Elm Road, Brighton East Sussex BN2 7HB DESCRIPTION ...something here....
In reply to Re^4: Extracting a (UK) Address
by Marshall
in thread Extracting a (UK) Address
by ropey
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