open BIGFILE, '<', "testfile.dat" or die "Can't open file: $!\n";

my %hash;
while( <BIGFILE> ) {
    chomp;
    my( $type, $No, $date ) = split(/\|/);
    $hash{$No.$date} = $type."@".$No."@".$date;
}
close BIGFILE;

## do something with the hash.