# convert to UPPERCASE
# returns $line = $line (all in uppercase)
$line =~ tr/a-z/A-Z/;


# convert to lowercase
# returns $line = $line (all in lowercase)
$line =~ tr/A-Z/a-z/;


# remove leading whitespace
# returns $line with no leading whitespace
$line =~ s/^\s+//;


# remove trailing whitespace
# returns $line with no trailing whitespace
# note: this will also remove \n
$line =~ s/\s+$//


# check for Y2K date (4-digit year specified)
# format exactly: nn/nn/nnnn or nn-nn-nnnn
# returns true if proper format
($line1 =~ m/[0-9]{2}[\/|-][0-9]{2}[\/|-][0-9]{4}/)


# find word that is bolded
# returns: $1 = 'text'
$line = "This is some <b>text</b> with HTML <tags> and ";
$line =~ m/<b>(.*)<\/b>/i;


# convert <STRONG> to <B>
$line =~ s/<(\/?)strong>/<$1b>/gi;


# strip HTML tags (not the best way)
# returns $line = 'This is some with HTML and words'
$line = "This is some <b>text</b> with HTML <tags> and words";
$line =~ s/<(.*?)>//gi;