Parsing multi-line blocks

sschneid has asked for the wisdom of the Perl Monks concerning the following question:

Monks, Is there any easy way to parse multi-line blocks (ie: configuration files)? I assume there are existing modules to do this, but my (admittedly weak) CPAN search skills haven't come up with anything. Learning Parse::RecDescent seems like it may be overkill in this situation (right?)... In any case, syntax of the file I'm attempting to parse is:

$type $key {
    $type2 $data
    $type2 $data
}
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e.g.

self 192.168.49.167 {
   netmask 255.255.255.0
   unit 1
   floating enable
   vlan public
   allow default
}
pool EIS-ORMI-Pool {
   lb method observed
   monitor all ORIM_https_monitor
   members
      192.168.11.192:6003
      192.168.11.173:6003
      10.125.11.213:6003
      10.125.11.214:6003
}
[download]

Thanks in advance!

-s.

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Re: Parsing multi-line blocks by cdarke (Prior) on Nov 13, 2007 at 16:20 UTC
It depends what you mean by 'parse'. I'm guessing that you wish to read each block as one record, then split the fields. Just set `local $/='}';` then read the file in the usual way: each block will be one record. Then you can split around "\n" to get the fields.	[reply] [d/l]
Re^2: Parsing multi-line blocks by sschneid (Deacon) on Nov 13, 2007 at 16:46 UTC
Thanks! I'd begun building something that parsed tokens based on $/, but didn't know if there was already a module somewhere that would save me from having to reinvent wheels, etc!	[reply]
Re: Parsing multi-line blocks by toolic (Bishop) on Nov 13, 2007 at 16:27 UTC
You could consider a CPAN module such as Config::General. Take a look, and see if it matches your needs.	[reply]
Re^2: Parsing multi-line blocks by sschneid (Deacon) on Nov 13, 2007 at 16:46 UTC
I'll take a look at it! Thanks!	[reply]
Re: Parsing multi-line blocks by grinder (Bishop) on Nov 13, 2007 at 18:04 UTC
This is what? a configuration file for a router or a some sort of network device? Have you tried searching for the product name or company name, to see if anyone has already written something that deals with it? It might not be on CPAN: use a web search as well. • another intruder with the mooring in the heart of the Perl	[reply]