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Test if file handle exists

In some code with exhaustive error handling, it calls a particular function to write to a log file, which does a "print LOG $message;". However, if an error occurs before LOG is opened, then (obviously) I see a "print() on unopened filehandle LOG" error.

If I try wrapping the "print LOG $message" with "if (defined(LOG)) { ... }", I get a "Bareword "LOG" not allowed while "strict subs" in use".

So, my question is: How can I test whether LOG is an open file handle?

Fast answer appreciated.

SOLUTION

Dave Cross

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rtsh

ASKER

(NB For future people viewing this question: I haven't actually tested this code (yet), but it gives a good enough idea as to how it could be done - ie not using LOG but $log as the file handle)

ozo

You might also try something like
if( -f LOG ){ print LOG @_; }

rtsh

ASKER

ozo... now that looks a lot neater for what I want to do, but I still get a warning:

"-f on unopened filehandle LOG at file.pl line X"

Anyone else got any good ideas?

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

ozo

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rtsh

ASKER

ozo. Brilliant. Worked perfectly. You can sleep easy tonight that you've helped a busy coder solve an annoying error.

If there's an admin around that can split the points I awarded to davorg between him and ozo, or let me know how I can do it, that'd be excellent.