$Query_Statement=" SELECT fname,lname,address,city,state,zip,phone,email FROM main ORDER by lname,fname;"; my $DataOut = $DBHandle->prepare($Query_Statement); $DataOut->execute(); foreach my $row_ref (@$DataOut->fetchrow_array){ my $fname = @$row_ary[0]; my $lname = @$row_ary[1]; my $total += length($fname); my $total += length($lname); if ((length($fname) + length($lname)) > 18){ my $Fintial = substr($fname,0,1); if ((length($Fintial) + length($lname)) > 18){ $lname = substr($lname,0,16); } $row_ary[0] = $Fintial; $row_ary[1] = $lname; } else{ next; } }