$ARGV[0] .= ".rpt";

open(FH,"<$ARGV[0]") or die "Cant open";
@arr = <FH>;

close(FH);

foreach $data(@arr){



if($data =~ /^\.define/ .. /^\.\.\.define$/){



$data =~ s/(^\.\w+\s+)(\w+)(\s+)(.+\w+$)(\s+\. \.$)/$2,$4/smx;

print "$data \n";


}



}
[download]

.define lok_tabs

        lock tab book_tab, book_mat, custdata2, ed_tab,

        book_rates, print_tab in share update mode

..

.define get_input

        select key, key1, key2,

               key3, key4, print_name

          into input_book_seq, fax_head, file_num,

               in_print_rates, NotId, print_name

          from ed_table

         where ed_table.tag = 'BOOK'

           and ed_table.key = 'PRNT'

           and ed_table.user_id = user

..
[download]

When you did @arr = <FH>;, you broke your file into an array of lines. One per array element.

When you do foreach $data(@arr){, you are setting $data to each of those lines in turn. Ie. $data will only ever contain one line at a time.

So, when you do $data =~ s/(^\.\w+\s+)(\w+)(\s+)(.+\w+$)(\s+\. \.$)/$2,$4/smx;, which is attempting to match this:

.define lok_tabs
        lock tab book_tab, book_mat, custdata2, ed_tab,
        book_rates, print_tab in share update mode
..
[download]

which is spread over 4 lines, it will always fail.

How could it match 4 lines in one line?

Do you have any ideas for how you might get around this problem?

---

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."

This is the point where I am getting stuck actually...and .define is not a single statement ...There are lot of in this file...Please suggest some solution