README for Parse-File-Metadata NAME Parse::File::Metadata - For plain-text files that contain both metadata and data records, parse metadata first DESCRIPTION This module is useful when you have to parse a plain-text file that meets the following conditions: * The file consists of two types of records: * A header section consisting of key-value pairs which constitute, in some sense, metadata. * A body section consisting mainly or entirely of data records, which may be either delimited or fixed-width. * The header and the body are separated by one or more empty records. * Your program must parse the metadata first, then make a decision on the basis of the metadata whether to proceed with parsing of the data. The metadata may or may not be used in the parsing of the data. * Call 'perldoc lib/Parse/File/Metadata.pm' for further documentation. INSTALLATION You should be able to use this set of instructions to install the module: perl Makefile.PL make make test make install If you are on a windows box you should use 'nmake' rather than 'make'.