my $jmp_distance = 100; my $treshhold = $FOO my $line = ; (my $tstamp, my $rest) = split(/\s+/,$line,2); #skipping through file by jumping over $jmp_distance lines do { $. += $jmp_distance; $line = ; ($tstamp, $rest) = split(/\s+/,$line,2); } while ($tstamp<=$treshhold) #since we overshot with the last jump $. -= $jmp_distance; while () { ($tstamp, $rest) = split(/\s+/,$_,2); print if $tstamp > $treshhold; }