while() { chomp; $_ =~ s/rcvtime.*<0a>// unless /Roxy/; print "$_\n";; } __DATA__ rcvtime=2006102600322813316-sndtime=2006102600323042116-msgtext=FRM\3aMatd<0a> rcvtime=2006102611373625516-sndtime=2006102611373640716-msgtext=FRM\3aRoxy<0a>