This is pretty easy really - you just open the file using the UNC.

Basically, opening a file on a network drive can be accomplished by using the UNC filepath:

my $unc = '//10.1.0.22/path/to/use';

open(my $fh, $unc) or die "[Error] COULD NOT OPEN FILE: [$unc] - [$!]"
+;
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If you need to connect to the network drive you have two options.

One option is to create a mapped drive.

You could do this directly through Windows using the NET USE command:

net use x: \\computer name\share name
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net use x: \\computer name\share name password /user:username
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net use x: \\computer name\share name password /user:username /persist
+ent:yes
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You could also accomplish this same thing using Win32::FileOp by using the Map routine:

my $drive = 'X';
my $unc   = '//10.1.0.22/path/to/use'
my $user  = 'user';
my $pass  = 'xyz';

Map $drive => $unc, { username => $user, passwd => $pass };
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Finally, the second option is to connect to the network drive directly in the program which can be accomplished by using the Win32::FileOp Connect routine:

my $drive = 'X';
my $unc   = '//10.1.0.22/path/to/use'
my $user  = 'user';
my $pass  = 'xyz';

Connect $drive => $unc, { username => $user, passwd => $pass };
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so this means if i do

open(<filehandle>,<network path>);
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i will be open a file on the network drive???
can you give an example depecting how to 'open' a file in the network drive???
and i've used just a simple notepad file no OLE magic...
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i'am worst at what do best and for this gift i fell blessed...
i found it hard it's hard to find well whatever
NEVERMIND

You really should RTFM.