rob dixon robdixongmxcom chiel wrote quick question use following line works ok result_toperating_descrindex pcmcia tmp_status 3 change following result_toperating_descrindex pcmcia usb tmp_status 3 first would replace noisy obscure result_toperating_descrindex result_toperating_descrindex get errors like use uninitialized value pattern match written result_toperating_descrindex pcmcia usb absence object string usb applied _ must undefined point script write result_toperating_descrindex pcmciausb remember regular expression tests whether object string contains either usb pcmcia checking equality something like better reads much fluently descr result_toperating_descrindex descr eq usb descr eq pcmcia tmp_status 3 hth rob unsubscribe email beginnersunsubscribeperlorg additional commands email beginnershelpperlorg httplearnperlorg thu 07 aug 2008 141249 0100 problem function