Jim, You could start by defining what a word is, using some regex:
$wordRegex = qr/... something here .../; Then build up from there: ($match) = $input =~ /($wordRegex{10}\s$word\s$wordRegex{10})/; Just an idea. -------------------------- David Olbersen iGuard Engineer 11415 West Bernardo Court San Diego, CA 92127 1-858-676-2277 x2152 > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Wednesday, April 02, 2003 11:42 AM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: Retrieving word and sourounding text > > > > $word = "seminary"; > > > I am trying to retrieve a word, and the surrounding text in a > file. For > example, read through a file for $word, and when matched, > place in a variable > the matching word, along with the 10 words preceding it and > trailing it, and > have it work over multiple lines. Is there an effective way > to do this in > Perl? i.e., in the paragraph above, if I searched for the > word "along" match > would contain what is written below. Can anyone help me with > this? Thanks. > > $match = "and when matched, place in a variable the matching > word, along with > the 10 words preceding it and trailing it, and"; > > > > > > -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]