Are there any environment variables that might need tweaking? Or anything to put in the script file?

How about you provide a little more information:

1. What version of perl are you using?

   perl -v

2. What version of "DOS" are you using? ver
3. What file associations do you have? assoc .pl

   The above produce output like: .pl=xxxx. Substitute whatever you get instead of 'xxxx' into the following command: ftype xxxx

4. The output from the following two commands:

   set pat
   set per
   [download]

5. Your full runnable code.

   Or if it is huge or proprietary; a complete, self-contained, runnable script that demonstrates the problem.

6. A cut&paste of the console log showing the posted code being run on your system.

If you supply that information, we here will almost certainly be able to solve your problem. Without it, all we can do is guess, usually wrongly.

ver Microsoft Windows XP Version 5.1.2600 perl -v Active State This is perl, v5.8.9 built for MSWin32-x86-multi-thread assoc .pl=Perl

#! Perl
######################################################################
+#########################################
#
#   input_demo.pl - Requires Active Perl 5.8.9 Or Higher
#
#
######################################################################
+#########################################

#require 5.8.9;        # Use Version 5.8.9 of Perl

#use lib "D:/Perl_510/lib/core ";

use English '-no_match_vars';
use File::Copy;
use IO::Handle;
use Win32;
use Win32::File qw/GetAttributes SetAttributes/;

my $runnum = 0;
my $program = 1;

    if( $runnum < 1) {
        $cwd = Win32::GetCwd();
        $prgmdir = $cwd;
    #    $prgmpth = "$prgmdir\\";
        print "\nProgram thinks it is located in the following directo
+ry:\n";
        print "\t$cwd\n";
        print "if incorrect (PATH has spaces)!  Enter full path or ret
+urn\n\n";
      chomp ($prgmd = <STDIN>);
        if( $prgmd =~ /^([a-zA-Z];\\).+$/ ) {
            $prgmdir = $prgmd;
        }
        else {
            $prgmdir = $cwd;            
        }
        $prgmdir =~ /^(\w:).*/;
        $prgmdrv = $1 . ":";
    print "\nProgram:  $program, leaves you in directory: $prgmdir\t y
+our input is: $prgmd \n";
    }
    
    RECYCLE:
    
    print "\nTo quit enter 0\n";
    chomp( $program = <STDIN>);
    
#Quit or rerun program
        if ( $program == 0 ) { exit 1;}
        goto RECYCLE;
        #exit 1;
[download]

Input data file:

c:\temp
1
1
0
[download]

Run Results: Manual run in DOS window:

>dos_input_test.pl

Program thinks it is located in the following directory:
        D:\data\Rx Utils
if incorrect (PATH has spaces)!  Enter full path or return

c:\temp

Program:  1, leaves you in directory: D:\data\Rx Utils
         your input is: c:\temp

To quit enter 0
1

To quit enter 0
1

To quit enter 0
0
[download]

Run with input file:

>dos_input_test.pl < pl_input.txt

Program thinks it is located in the following directory:
        D:\data\Rx Utils
if incorrect (PATH has spaces)!  Enter full path or return


Program:  1, leaves you in directory: D:\data\Utils
         your input is:

To quit enter 0

>
[download]

-------end of run data ---------- Your help is most appreciated! Thanks, JMK

You've only supplied half the information requested in item 3; and none of item 4.

---

With the rise and rise of 'Social' network sites: 'Computers are making people easier to use everyday'

Examine what is said, not who speaks -- Silence betokens consent -- Love the truth but pardon error.

"Science is about questioning the status quo. Questioning authority".

In the absence of evidence, opinion is indistinguishable from prejudice.

The start of some sanity?

>assoc .pl
.pl=Perl

>ftype Perl
Perl="d:\perl\bin\perl.exe" "%1" %*

>set pat
Path=d:\PERL\site\bin;d:\PERL\bin;C:\Program Files\Business Objects\Co
+mmon\3.5\b
in\NOTES\;C:\Program Files\Business Objects\Common\3.5\bin\NOTES\DATA\
+;<snip> 

PATHEXT=.COM;.EXE;.BAT;.CMD;.VBS;.VBE;.JS;.JSE;.WSF;.WSH

>set per
Environment variable per not defined

>
[download]

I think I see where this is going, but I still need help. Much appreciated, JMK

The only thing I see missing is .pl from pathext, but all that does is allow you to omit the .pl from commands. Which you aren't doing in your examples, so NP.

But, when I run your example in the manner you demonstrated, it works as you'd expect:

C:\test>type junk2.pl
#! Perl
######################################################################
+#########################################
#
#   input_demo.pl - Requires Active Perl 5.8.9 Or Higher
#
#
######################################################################
+#########################################

#require 5.8.9;         # Use Version 5.8.9 of Perl

#use lib "D:/Perl_510/lib/core ";

use English '-no_match_vars';
use File::Copy;
use IO::Handle;
use Win32;
use Win32::File qw/GetAttributes SetAttributes/;

my $runnum = 0;
my $program = 1;

        if( $runnum < 1) {
                $cwd = Win32::GetCwd();
                $prgmdir = $cwd;
        #       $prgmpth = "$prgmdir\\";
                print "\nProgram thinks it is located in the following
+ directory:\n";
                print "\t$cwd\n";
                print "if incorrect (PATH has spaces)!  Enter full pat
+h or return\n\n";
          chomp ($prgmd = <STDIN>);
                if( $prgmd =~ /^([a-zA-Z];\\).+$/ ) {
                        $prgmdir = $prgmd;
                }
                else {
                        $prgmdir = $cwd;
                }
                $prgmdir =~ /^(\w:).*/;
                $prgmdrv = $1 . ":";
        print "\nProgram:  $program, leaves you in directory: $prgmdir
+\t your input is: $prgmd \n";
        }

        RECYCLE:

        print "\nTo quit enter 0\n";
        chomp( $program = <STDIN>);

#Quit or rerun program
                if ( $program == 0 ) { exit 1;}
                goto RECYCLE;
                #exit 1;

C:\test>type junk.dat
fred
1
1
0

C:\test>junk2.pl < junk.dat

Program thinks it is located in the following directory:
        C:\test
if incorrect (PATH has spaces)!  Enter full path or return


Program:  1, leaves you in directory: C:\test    your input is: fred

To quit enter 0

To quit enter 0

To quit enter 0
[download]

The logic of your test code is a bit mixed up, (and are you aware that changing the cwd within a program will be "undone" when the program exits?), but why you are apparently seeing different behaviour to me when that code is run I cannot explain. Nor diagnose.

The only question I can think to ask: how did you install your copy of Perl? AS offer two methods: a zip file and a .msi.

In the past I tried the zip file (smaller download), but had problems -- the post unzip command file that is meant to fix-up the installation didn't complete properly and left the install in a mess. I ended up blowing the whole thing away -- include searching the registry and deleting any keys that appeared to be related, a non-recommended process not for the faint of heart -- and then installing the .msi which "Just worked". And I've used the .msi's ever since.

The symptoms of your problem seem to be very much related to your installation rather than Perl itself, and as such, you may well get better help on the AS forums than here.

---

With the rise and rise of 'Social' network sites: 'Computers are making people easier to use everyday'

Examine what is said, not who speaks -- Silence betokens consent -- Love the truth but pardon error.

"Science is about questioning the status quo. Questioning authority".

In the absence of evidence, opinion is indistinguishable from prejudice.

The start of some sanity?