"Resetting" a file handle

DeusVult has asked for the wisdom of the Perl Monks concerning the following question:

Is there some way to "reset" a file handle? If, for example, I open a file with filehandle FH, and I want to do this:

my $info;
while (<FH>) {
  $info = &searchEachLineForInterestingInformation($_);
    # ok, no one would ever name a subroutine that, but I'm
    # trying to be descriptive here
}
[download]

Then, once I know what is in $info, I want to go back and read the file again, looking for something new depending upon what sort of information I received from this first pass.

So is there any way to set FH back to the beginning?

On another level, is there some way to do even more complicated seeking (read in line 14, jump back to line 11, etc.)? I can get by without it for this problem, but I always like to learn new tricks.

Thanks in advance.

Some people drink from the fountain of knowledge, others just gargle.

Comment on "Resetting" a file handle Download Code

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(jeffa) Re: "Resetting" a file handle by jeffa (Bishop) on Feb 01, 2001 at 23:36 UTC
`seek(FH,0,0);` [download] Also, look into tell Jeff L-LL-L--L-LL-L--L-LL-L-- -R--R-RR-R--R-RR-R--R-RR F--F--F--F--F--F--F--F-- (the triplet paradiddle)	[reply] [d/l]
Re: "Resetting" a file handle by lhoward (Vicar) on Feb 01, 2001 at 23:36 UTC
Assuming that FH is a filehandle to a "real" file and not something like a pipe you can just do: `seek FH,0,0;` [download] See the seek documents in perlfunc for more info...	[reply] [d/l]
Re: "Resetting" a file handle by kilinrax (Deacon) on Feb 01, 2001 at 23:36 UTC
You probably want to take a look at seek. `seek FILEHANDLE, 0, 0;` [download] will reset a filehandle to the beginning of the file.	[reply] [d/l]
Re: "Resetting" a file handle by Trinary (Pilgrim) on Feb 01, 2001 at 23:38 UTC
seek! <code>seek FH,0,0; will put it back to the beginning. Check docs for more arguments, etc. You might also want to check out info on $., which is the current line number of the last filehandle that was read from, written to, or seeked. Enjoy! Trinary	[reply]
Re: "Resetting" a file handle by DeusVult (Scribe) on Feb 02, 2001 at 00:24 UTC
Thank you everyone for your prompt replies, though I'm a little embarrassed to have asked what appears to be a common knowledge question. I can only assure you that I did indeed try to find the answer on my own. Some people drink from the fountain of knowledge, others just gargle.	[reply]