Just did this in a real app - nearly fell out of the chair when it worked. 
require 5.8.0;   ## in order to write NSANS format to a scalar
use strict;

   foreach $ns_answer (@ns_answer) {
          open(NSANS,">", \$ns_holder) or die("bla..\n");
           write NSANS;
           print OFILE $ns_holder;
           close(NSANS);
           }

format OFILE=     ## for the disk file report 
@<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<  @<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
+<<<<<<<<<<<<<
$adr,             $ptr_answer
.


format NSANS=     ## written to handle, then to scalar, then printed t
+o OFILE
                  @<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
+<<<<<<<<<<<<<
                  $ns_answer
.

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To clarify, the format NSANS was defined, but when used, the scalar $ns_holder is opened to write to. Once the write is done, the scalar $ns_holder contains the NSANS-formatted structure.

Then the scalar $ns_holder can be written ("print"ed) to another handle, in this case the format OFILE (the final output file).. so a format(ed) thing containing different scalars can get written to a previously defined and already open'ed file handle (two identical output formats, containing different scalars, written to a single output file handle).

That wasn't too clear - sorry - but I hope it's evident that you can write to a handle to a scalar.

In reply to Re: How do I treat a string like a filehandle? by hsinclai
in thread How do I treat a string like a filehandle? by Anonymous Monk

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