#!/usr/bin/perl -w

#######################################################
# class8_09_filetest1
#
# adding a file test to class8_07_filehandle_output2 ---
# if output file doesn't exist, we'll create it, not die;
#
# modified by Sharon Tuttle from "Learning Perl",
#    by Schartz and Phoenix
#
# last modified: 5-5-03
#######################################################

# let's say that this reads from a previously-created messages file,
# IF one exists --- otherwise, it creates one!

if (-e "class8_09_msgs")
{    
    open PREV_MSGS, "< class8_09_msgs"
       or die "Cannot open class8_09_msgs: $!";

    # show the current contents of this file

    while (<PREV_MSGS>)
    {
        chomp($old_msg = $_);

        print "old message from file: $old_msg\n";
    }

    close PREV_MSGS; # through reading from class8_05_msgs
}

# now I want to open it for appending; note, if DIDN'T exist
# before --- now it will! 8-)
open ALL_MSGS, ">> class8_09_msgs"
   or die "Cannot open class8_09_msgs for appending: $!";

# add a new message to the end of class8_09_msgs

print "What message shall be added this time?\n";
chomp($new_msg = <STDIN>);

print ALL_MSGS "$new_msg\n";

close ALL_MSGS; # close appending filehandle

# end of class8_09_filetest1