Need help with string and file manipulation

[Anonymous Monk]

Hey there monks! I'm what you call a new born Perl baby. I haven't written a code in Perl, but I am reading on how to program Perl. I have an assignment that needs me to know how to program, but I'm falling short on time and I need at least some pointers if not an explanation of how to get it done. Here's my problem...

This project will focus on Perl’s pattern matching and file manipulation features. My objective is to write a Perl program that takes an input file, a search string, and a replacement string, and then generates a new file with all occurrences of the search string in the input file replaced with the replacement string. My program should prompt the user for an input file name, a search string, a replacement string, and an output file name. The program should replace all occurrences of the search pattern with the replacement string, while copying the input file to the output file.

Now if any of you monks, can point me in some correct direction or even feel like giving me some sympathy and even show me how, and I'll follow your sample I'd be forever indebted. If anyone can help please, let me know or email [e-mail] Thanks...HELLLLLLLLLP!!!!!

Restored AM's paragraphing - dvergin 2002-04-13