#!/usr/bin/perl use warnings; use strict; while(my $zeile = ) { my @array = (); @array = split(/\./, $zeile); print join("\n", $array[0])."\n"; } # while __DATA__ Auto.VW.Golf.BJ Auto2.VW.Polo.BJ Auto3.Audi.A5.BJ Auto4.Audi.A4.BJ Auto5.Audi.A3.BJ