I'm not sure what you want in this second programming problem. Maybe you could explain it a bit more?

This is a very simple CSV file (no quote characters or embedded quotes within quotes), so just split on the comma's and then do another split on space to get the basic value and measurement units from the line. I used what is called a list slice to assign directly to variables without any numeric subscript stuff.

The "formula" for this sort of thing is: open files, read and separate the input data into one "record" (a "quanta" if you will that makes sense for processing), either save that for processing in a collection of those "records" or process the records as you go.

In your first example, I don't think there is a need to save anything past the "current record". For this one, I don't know.. explain more and show more...

#!/usr/bin/perl 
use strict;
use warnings;   # the same as #!/usr/bin/perl -w in first line

while (<DATA>)
{
   next if /^\s*$/;     # skip blank lines
                        #   sometimes a last blank line
                        #   causes problems!
   s/\s*$//;            # or chomp;  fine also            
   
   my ($date, $description, $measurement) = (split (/,/,$_))[0,1,3];
   my ($value, $units) = split (/\s+/,$measurement);
   print "date     = $date\n",
         "descript = $description\n",
         "value    = $value\n",
         "units    = $units\n\n";

   # instead of print, do something here ...
}

=prints
date     = 20/08/2007
descript = Erythrocyte sedimentation rate
value    = 3
units    = mm/h

date     = 20/08/2008
descript = Total white blood count
value    = 6.7
units    = 10*9/L

date     = 04/04/2007
descript = Haemoglobin estimation 12.9 g/dL
value    = 12.9
units    = g/dL
=cut

__DATA__
20/08/2007,Erythrocyte sedimentation rate,,3 mm/h
20/08/2008,Total white blood count,,6.7 10*9/L
04/04/2007,Haemoglobin estimation 12.9 g/dL,,12.9 g/dL

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In reply to Re^3: Code Critique by Marshall
in thread Code Critique by rhiridflaidd

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