Indeed my example fails, i don't understand why, (sure i now know how to fix it, but i still don't get it) though that is for me to go read and this time try to understand the chapter again. I think it was like chapter one or something ;)

It does appear that the hash method is clearly advantageous in at atleast two ways i can think of, arbitrary length and refs/sub-refs. without needing a long list of if,elsif,else.

I thank you folks, i've some things to go away and consider.

Isaac.