1. Introduction Learning Perl on Win32 Systems
History of Perl
Purpose of Perl
Availability
Support
Basic Concepts
A Stroll Through Perl
Exercises

2. Scalar Data
What Is Scalar Data?
Numbers
Strings
Scalar Operators
Scalar Variables
Scalar Operators and Functions
as a Scalar Value
Output with print
The Undefined Value
Exercises

3. Arrays and List Data
What Is a List or Array?
Literal Representation
Variables
Array Operators and Functions
Scalar and List Context
as an Array
Variable Interpolation of Arrays
Exercises

4. Control Structures
Statement Blocks
The if/unless Statement
The while/until Statement
The do {} while/until Statement
The for Statement
The foreach Statement
Exercises

5. Hashes
What Is a Hash?
Hash Variables
Literal Representation of a Hash
Hash Functions
Hash Slices
Exercises

6. Basic I/O
Input from STDIN
Input from the Diamond Operator
Output to STDOUT
Exercises

7. Regular Expressions
Concepts About Regular Expressions
Simple Uses of Regular Expressions
Patterns
More on the Matching Operator
Substitutions
The split and join Functions
Exercises

8. Functions
Defining a User Function
Invoking a User Function
Return Values
Arguments
Private Variables in Functions
Semiprivate Variables Using local
File-Level my( ) Variables
Exercises

9. Miscellaneous Control Structures
The last Statement
The next Statement
The redo Statement
Labeled Blocks
Expression Modifiers
&&, ||, and ?: as Control Structures
Exercises

10. Filehandles and File Tests
What Is a Filehandle?
Opening and Closing a Filehandle
Using Pathnames and Filenames
A Slight Diversion: die
Using Filehandles
The -x File Tests
The stat Function
Exercises

11. Formats
What Is a Format?
Defining a Format
Invoking a Format
More About the Fieldholders
The Top-of-Page Format
Changing Defaults for Formats
The FileHandle Module
Exercises

12. Directory Access
Moving Around the Directory Tree
Globbing
Directory Handles
Opening and Closing a Directory Handle
Reading a Directory Handle
Exercises

13. File and Directory Manipulation
Removing a File
Renaming a File
Making and Removing Directories
Modifying Permissions
Modifying Timestamps
Exercises

14. Process Management
Using system and exec
Using Backquotes
Using Processes as Filehandles
Summary of Process Operations
Win32::Process
Exercises

15. Other Data Transformation
Finding a Substring
Extracting and Replacing a Substring
Formatting Data with sprintf( )
Advanced Sorting
Transliteration
Exercises

16. System Information
Getting User and Machine Information
Packing and Unpacking Binary Data
Getting Network Information
The Registry
Opening and Reading Registry Values
Setting Registry Values
Exercises

17. Database Manipulation
DBM Databases and DBM Hashes
Opening and Closing DBM Hashes
Using a DBM Hash
Fixed-Length Random-Access Databases
Variable-Length ( Text) Databases
Win32 Database Interfaces
Exercises

18. CGI Programming
The CGI.pm Module
Your CGI Program in Context
Simplest CGI Program
Passing Parameters via CGI
Creating a Guestbook Program
Troubleshooting CGI Programs
Perl and the Web: Beyond CGI Programming
Further Reading
Exercises

19. OLE Automation
Introduction to OLE Automation
Creating Automation Objects
Using Automation Objects
Variants
Tips and Techniques
Exercises

A. Exercise Answers
B. Libraries and Modules
C. Networking Clients
D. Topics We Didn't Mention