my $str = "SNMPv2-MIB::sysUpTime.0 = Timeticks: (2137215391) 247 days, 8:42:33.91\n"; my @bits = split ' ', $str; print "\$bits[$_] = '$bits[$_]'\n" for 0..$#bits; print join ' ', 'Split:', @bits[4..6], "\n"; # alternatively fixing the RE .... print "RE: $1 | $2\n" if $str =~ m|\)\s+(\d[\w ]+),\s+([0-9:\.]+)$|; __DATA__ $bits[0] = 'SNMPv2-MIB::sysUpTime.0' $bits[1] = '=' $bits[2] = 'Timeticks:' $bits[3] = '(2137215391)' $bits[4] = '247' $bits[5] = 'days,' $bits[6] = '8:42:33.91' Split: 247 days, 8:42:33.91 RE: 247 days | 8:42:33.91