while ( ) { my $dpdrivloc = "MSL6000 Trinity"; if ( /\Q$dpdrivloc\E:\s*(\d+)/ ) { print "$1\n"; } } __DATA__ Label Location Pool Name Protection [NFK100L2] [MSL6000 Trinity: 1] MSL6000 01/19/2004 [NFK101L2] [MSL6000 Trinity: 5] MSL6000 01/19/2004