Free advice: (Not worth the electrons its displayed with.)

If I understand you correctly, your a PHP program who has been contracted to do some (PHP) work on a system. You have discovered that you have a dependancy on some Perl written by someone else at someother time and you need to modify that (apparently rather badly written) code. You are trying to get advice as to the best way to achieve your ends with having to try and re-write the whole system cos you wouldn't want to, and wouldn't get permission/paid to do it anyway.

1). Use the code snips below and use their best advice to do the minimum work that you need to.

2) Print off a copy of the rants and raves herein and keep them till your project is finished. THEN, take a copy of the original script you modified and contrast it with your new version to the man that pays the bills. Point out that the previous (Perl) programmer employed did not do a good job as testified to by the rants above and, if you feel up to doing the job, (in Perl if you can, PHP if you know that you can do that but not the Perl) give the man a realistic quote for doing the work.

You just might get some extra work at a time when many are struggling to find some.

Finally, if your schedule, your knowledge or your desire prevent you from doing the work, you could suggest a finders fee for locating a (decent) Perl programmer to do the job and bring the specs along here. I'm sure that you could find a willing, competent man hereabouts that would be grateful for the hand-me-along.

Good luck in your project.