Perl has a bunch of tools that can help you. For starters, always start your code with the shebang line:

#!/usr/env/perl

Next, always use strictures---something like this:

#!/usr/env/perl

use strict;
use warnings;
use diagnostics;
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Next, you can run your script using the perl debugger

perl -d yourscript.pl

The debugger will start the script and a prompt will popup. At the prompt, enter the first line of code

x my $data = "clients.dat";

Something like 'clients.dat' will come back, so there's the first error: "clients.dat" should be 'clients.dat'. Be sure to use x my $data = "clients.dat" because the "x" will make it correct the mistake for you. If you just enter "my $data = "clients.dat"", then nothing will happen. Pretty simple, no? Enter each line thru the end of the script.

Next, you'll want to straighten-up your code, make it prettier so to speak. Download and install Perl::Tidy. Then from the command line: perltidy yourscript.pl

Lastly, since you are new to Perl, you'll want to download and install Perl::Critic. Then enter on the command line:

perlcritic yourscript.pl

Be sure to check the documentation. There's a lot that you can do with perlcritic, and it will definitely help you.