On a related note, isn't 
$a= undef;
open ($a, "<file.txt");

[download]
a fairly new thing? That is, we used to have to use tricks to create a reference to an anonymous filehandle first, and then open it. Now filehandles are autovivafing. I think that may be one reason why getting away from plain HANDLE's is historicaly a pain, but isn't as bad anymore.

In reply to Re: Re^6: Determining what line a filehandle is on by John M. Dlugosz
in thread Determining what line a filehandle is on by Anonymous Monk

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