my ($vals) = $_ =~ /\b\s\d+\.\d+\b|\b\d+\.\d+\b(.*?)\bcache\b/; my ($vals) = $_ =~ /\b\s|\d+\.\d+\b(.*?)\bcache\b/; __DATA__ 42.95 7712 15:20:05 08:30 23684 cache -s/usr/cachesys/mgr -cj -p374 JOB^CCJOB or 2.18 7712 03:31:27 11:57:08 27747 cache -s/usr/cachesys/mgr -cj -p91 JOB^CCJOB __OUTPUT__ perl test.plx Use of uninitialized value in print at test.plx line 34, <$ps> line 527. Use of uninitialized value in print at test.plx line 34, <$ps> line 629. Use of uninitialized value in print at test.plx line 34, <$ps> line 631. Use of uninitialized value in print at test.plx line 34, <$ps> line 634. Use of uninitialized value in print at test.plx line 34, <$ps> line 635. 7712 00:47:40 14:44:41 12051 7712 00:47:42 14:44:39 12052 7712 00:47:44 14:44:37 12055 7712 00:47:49 14:44:32 12090 . . . .