The error message makes it look as though the data is part of the script file. Is it?

What is "$file_list" for? Why do you have it this value as a command line arg when it isn't used in the script?

Why do you open a file handle in a subroutine, but then close it in "main" (why not close it in the subroutine, too?)

If the script file does not contain a __DATA__ portion, and the data you mention is actually in another file, have you tried checking the syntax of the script by itself first, without running it on the data? Like so:

perl -cw your_script.pl
[download]

Is that "bareword" complaint really the only thing that comes out when you try to run it? (Are there no other errors?)

Try to get your indentation right -- any good editor should make this easy, and it will help.

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