I originally had if ($char == 'x') which is not the same as if ($char eq 'x') Full code: $sum = 0; $value= "93752xxx746x27x1754xx90x93xxxxx238x44x75xx08750912738x8461x8759383xx328x4x4935903x6x5550360535004x0xx945958961296x267x8842xxx5x6xx61x4x48482x80xxx83316843x7x4x83x9521731xxx25x51xx457x6x5x...