$/ = ""; while ($para = <>) { @lines = split(/\n/, $para); if (@lines == 1) { $lastHeading = $lines[0]; next; } if ($para =~ "mSOriginating") { if ($para =~ "$msisdn") { print "@lines"; } } } #### What is happening: 12345678910 What I want: 1 2 3 4 5 etc....