http://www.perlmonks.org?node_id=184284


in reply to TIE:: to a compressed file ?

Take a look at IO::Zlib. I believe it'll do exactly what you want -- that is, tie a compressed file and treat it like an ordinary file handle (a la Tie::File). In your case, I wouldn't keep the large data record compressed AND use a compressed data file -- I don't see that it buys you anything. Just use IO::Zlib and compress the whole file.
--RT