No subject

// operator)

You can do any of:
@chars = /^(.)(.)(.)(.)(.)/
or
($first,....,$last = /^(.)(.)(.)(.)(.)/
or
/^(.)(.)(.)(.)(.)/
$first=$1;
...
$last=$5;

HTH

Yours Tony

   Jan 22-25 2003           Linux.Conf.AU            http://linux.conf.au/
		  The Australian Linux Technical Conference!