[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > For example, If I have this in my file (see below) how can I get the > line <val2>20<\val2>, with out reading through the entire file > > <val1>0<\val1> > <val2>0<\val2> > <val3>0<\val3> > <val1>10<\val1> > <val2>10<\val2> > <val3>10<\val3> > <val1>20<\val1> > <val2>20<\val2> > <val3>20<\val3>
If you are on a unix like machine or even windows with cygwin installed you could just use the `tail' command and parse for the regex you want. Or if you know for sure the line you want is the very last line then just use `tail -n1' but for safety I think you might want at least the last 5 so: ## Untested my @tailar = qx/tail -n5 filename/; my line; for (@tailar){ if (/<\d+>/){ $line = $_; } } print "[$line] contains last variable\n"; But unless the file is pretty big this may not be measurably faster. -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://learn.perl.org/