I cheated like a big dog, but it works. :smirk:

I didn't mention that this file is uploading some data that we'll be searching later with an HTML form, did I? Well, in that case, it ought to be persistent... saved somewhere, right?

So. Inside the no strict; block, I open a file and save off the data (after the tr and split). Once safely back outside that block, I open the datafile and read back the data and proceed merrily on my way. But it works!