This is a general answer. I didn't review the code, but there's a simple and swift approach to parsing formatted data files. The data and delimiters are ALWAYS opposites. If you have a space delimted file, with 3 fields use:

if($line =~ /^(\S+)\s+(\S+)\s+(\S+)/) {

   @fields = ($1,$2,$3) 

} else { print "Regex Error on $line\n" }
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If you have a colon delimted file, with 3 fields use:

if($line =~ /([^:]+):([^:]+):([^:]+)/) { 

    @fields = ($1,$2,$3) 

} else { print "Regex Error on $line\n" }
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\s is the opposite of
\S
: is the opposite of

Then you can manipulate individual fields.

Sean