open HTML, "startpage" || die "opening startpage: $!\n";
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is parsed as: open HTML, ( "startpage" || die "opening startpage: $!\n" ) but the expression "startpage" is always true so the die will never be executed. To test, just change "startpage" to "smartmage" or some other non-existant file name.

The problem is a matter of precedence.

An alternate solution is: open( HTML, "startpage" ) || die "opening startpage: $!\n"; but I'd still use or for that for the sake of robustness (in case someone comes along and remove the parens).

        - tye (but my friends call me "Tye")