Display error message if an error occurs on "open" command

[Geek]

How can I get the following code to display a meaningful error message if
the "open" command doesn't succeeed?

$blatString = "\|C:\WINNT\SYSTEM32\blat.exe
\"d:\temp\message_body.txt\" -t \"(e-mail address removed)\" -s \"This is a
test\" -f \"(e-mail address removed)\" -i \"Web Server\" -server mail.nowhere.com

d:\temp\~blatoutput.txt";

open (MAIL2, $blatString));

I'd like something that displays the actual error encountered, not just
something like this:

$blatString = "\|C:\WINNT\SYSTEM32\blat.exe
\"d:\temp\message_body.txt\" -t \"(e-mail address removed)\" -s \"This is a
test\" -f \"(e-mail address removed)\" -i \"Web Server\" -server mail.nowhere.com

d:\temp\~blatoutput.txt";

unless (open (MAIL2, $blatString)) {
print "<p>Can't execute Blat</p>";
$BlatError = 1;
}

 

[Tore Aursand]

open (MAIL2, $blatString));

I'd like something that displays the actual error encountered, [...]

Use the $! operator.

 

[David H. Adler]

open (MAIL2, $blatString));

I'd like something that displays the actual error encountered, [...]

Use the $! operator.

s/operator/variable/;

dha

 

[Geek]

Thanks to you and David.

open (MAIL2, $blatString));

I'd like something that displays the actual error encountered, [...]

Use the $! operator.