my ( $l_cmd, $l_line, $l_timeout );

  $l_cmd     = "sqlplus /nolog \@pwd2.sql 2>&1";
  $l_timeout = 5;

  my $pid = 0;
  eval
  {
    local $SIG{ALRM} = sub 
    {
      printf "\n%%'sqlplus' Action took more than '$l_timeout' seconds !\n";
      printf "($l_cmd); pid=$pid\n\n";
      kill( 15, $pid )  if $pid > 1;
      exit 1;
    };
    alarm( $l_timeout );
    $pid = open( PH, "$l_cmd |" ) || printf( "Could not execute '$l_cmd': $!\n" );
    while ( my $line = <PH> )
    {
      push @output, $line;
    }
    alarm( 0 );
  };
  print "pid = $pid\n\n";
  eval { alarm(0) };  # The alarm reset must be outside the eval{}.
}