#!/usr/bin/perl -w
use strict;
package MyHandle;
use Tie::Handle;
use IO::Handle;
use base 'Tie::StdHandle';

my %seps;

sub READLINE
{
 my $self = shift;
 local $/ = $seps{$self};
 $self->SUPER::READLINE(@_);
}

sub set_input_separator
{
 my $self = shift;
 $seps{$self} = shift;
}

sub DESTROY
{
 delete $seps{shift};
}

package main;

my $fh = tie *FH2, 'MyHandle';
$fh->set_input_separator( "\007" );

open FH1, 'test1.txt';
open FH2, 'test2.txt';

while (<FH1>)
{
 my $data1 = $_;
 chop($data1);
 my $data2 = <FH2>;
 chop($data2);
 print "(1)$data1\n(2)$data2\n";
}
[download]

update: added DESTROY to avoid mem leaks

I don't see how this solves the problem asked. You're still doing a local $/ = ... every time the file is read from. You're just doing it in a much more complicated manner. *shrug* The question was a little vague (IMHO) so I might be misinterpreting it...

Basically, I don't think that it can be done. If it could, I think IO::Handle would've done it.

bbfu
Seasons don't fear The Reaper.
Nor do the wind, the sun, and the rain.
We can be like they are.

The problem I heard asked was:

How can I have a per-filehandle $/ so I don't have to do an explicit local $/ = something every time I change file handles?

My solution answers this by moving the local $/ = ... out of the user's program entirely, and adding per-file-handle setting of $/. How is this not an improvement?

use IO::Handle;
$fh->input_record_separator( "<!>" );
[download]

update: princepawn is right, there's only one $/ . I suppose you could tie the handle and change $/ around each READLINE.

I'm afriad I don't agree with you. Per the IO::Handle manpage:

 The following methods are not supported on a per-filehandle
     basis.

         IO::Handle->format_line_break_characters( [STR] ) $:
         IO::Handle->format_formfeed( [STR])               $^L
         IO::Handle->output_field_separator( [STR] )       $,
         IO::Handle->output_record_separator( [STR] )      $\

         IO::Handle->input_record_separator( [STR] )       $/
[download]