while ( index( $rechash->{itemnumber}, '|', $pos ) > 0 ) {
$countitems += 1;
$pos = index( $rechash->{itemnumber}, '|', $pos ) + 1;
while ( index( $rechash->{itemnumber}, '|', $pos ) > 0 ) {
$countitems += 1;
$pos = index( $rechash->{itemnumber}, '|', $pos ) + 1;