change $/

[st12iker]

I have a datafile with the following format from which I need to extract parts of the text and copy to a seperate file :

[HTML]
Header (line 1)
---------------------------
(line 2starts)
Content - Content
Content - Content
Content - Content

Content - Content -Content - Content -Content - Content -Content - Content -Content - Content -Content - Content -Content - Content -Content - Content -
(line break)
Subheader
Content - Content -Content - Content -Content - Content -Content - Content -Content - Content -Content - Content -Content - Content -Content - Content -Co
(linebreak)
Content - Content -Content - Content -Content - Content -Content - Content -Content - Content -Content - Content -Content - Content -Content -
( line2 ends)
----------------
Header (line 3)
-----------------
(line 4 starts)
Content - Content
Content - Content
Content - Content

Content - Content -Content - Content -Content - Content -Content - Content -Content - Content -Content - Content -Content - Content -Content - Content -
(line break)
Subheader
Content - Content -Content - Content -Content - Content -Content - Content -Content - Content -Content - Content -Content - Content -Content - Content -Co
(linebreak)
Content - Content -Content - Content -Content - Content -Content - Content -Content - Content -Content - Content -Content - Content -Content - Content
(line 4 ends)
[/HTML]


The file contains text that repeats the above pattern many times (is often very large).

I would like to change the record seperator so that it reads in the header as on line and the rest of the record as another line. --- isnt part of the file - just a visual cue I put in to demonstrate different lines. Is this possible?

[miller]

Dealing with the record separater is a rather advanced method for parsing a file. I suggest that you first attempt to parse the file using regular techniques. This will often demonstrate if it is even possible to do what you're wanting.

Also please note that your terminology is confusing. Instead of "line 1", I believe you mean record 1. As each of the main content sections contain "lines".

for (my $line = <DATA>; ! eof(DATA);) {
    my $header = $line;
 
    my $content = '';
    while (defined($line = <DATA>)) {
        last if $line =~ /^Header/;
        $content .= $line;
    }
 
    print $header;
    print "Content = " . length($content) . " characters\n";
}
 
__DATA__
Header (section 1)
Content - Content
Content - Content
Content - Content
Content - Content -Content - Content -Content - Content -Content - Content -Content - Content -Content - Content -Content - Content -Content - Content -
Subheader
Content - Content -Content - Content -Content - Content -Content - Content -Content - Content -Content - Content -Content - Content -Content - Content -Co
Content - Content -Content - Content -Content - Content -Content - Content -Content - Content -Content - Content -Content - Content -Content -
Header (section 2)
Content - Content
Content - Content
Content - Content
Content - Content -Content - Content -Content - Content -Content - Content -Content - Content -Content - Content -Content - Content -Content - Content -
Subheader
Content - Content -Content - Content -Content - Content -Content - Content -Content - Content -Content - Content -Content - Content -Content - Content -Co
Content - Content -Content - Content -Content - Content -Content - Content -Content - Content -Content - Content -Content - Content -Content - Content
 

Output

>perl scratch.pl
Header (section 1)
Content = 515 characters
Header (section 2)
Content = 523 characters
 

- Miller