this worked perfectly thanks. I just have a question about how it works? it seems like the assigments of $1 remove that section from the original variable. is that correct? can someone explain how that works in order to keep the pointer for the while in the correct place.

thanks soo much you were all a great help!

In reply to Re^2: using a variable as a filehandle by bear0053
in thread using a variable as a filehandle by bear0053

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