in reply to Split a string into items of constant length

Another solution is to use magical values for open and $/: 
my $a = 'a(b)cd(e)fg(h)ij(k)l';
open IN, '<', \$a or die "Reading string: $!\n";
$/=\5;
my @s = <IN>;
print map "$_\n", @s;

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(You need to be using a modern perl. I think 5.8.x)
Caution: Contents may have been coded under pressure.

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