{

my $inline;

my @usedline = {};

sub getme

# getme returns the appropriate line from the intermediate file (opened as

# INFILE) based on the field name requested in fld_name. It returns the

# whole line. If it CAN NOT find the field specified it returns a NULL string.

#

{

local($line);

local($needline) = @_;

local($openagain) = 0;

local($retval) = "";

RECKBLK:

{

while ($line = <INFILE>)

{

$inline++;

if (!$usedline[$inline])

{

if ($line =~ /$needline/)

{

$retval = $line;

$usedline[$inline] = 1;

last;

}

}

} # end of <INFILE> reached.

#

# the next section either returns the found line, or if none is found

# resets the file pointer and sweeps the file another time, but ONLY

# once. If nothing is found, it returns an empty (NULL) $retval.

#

if ($retval)

{

return $retval;

# $retval is not null here.

} else {

if ($openagain)

{

return $retval;

# $retval is null here.

} else {

$openagain = 1;

$inline = 0;

seek(INFILE, 0, 0);

redo RECKBLK;

}

}

} # end of RECKBLK

}

}