sub array_to_hash { . . . # Or assume keyattr => [ .... ] else { ELEMENT: for($i = 0; $i < @$arrayref; $i++) { return ($arrayref) if $arrayref->[$i]{name} eq 'e_im_dev_io_entry'; #this line was added to jump out return($arrayref) unless(UNIVERSAL::isa($arrayref->[$i], 'HASH')); . . . } #### Device Handle: 2 Device Handle: 5 _______________________________________________ Options used were: none No good, I lost one element $VAR1 = { 'Entry' => { 'e_im_dev_io_entry' => { 'detail' => '4', 'Text' => 'Device Handle: 5' } }, 'name' => 'IM Report', 'address' => 'Address', 'productID' => 'INTRFC-MGR01' }; _______________________________________________ Options used were: KeyAttr=>[] This is what I want. $VAR1 = { 'Entry' => [ { 'detail' => '4', 'name' => 'e_im_dev_io_entry', 'Text' => 'Device Handle: 2' }, { 'detail' => '4', 'name' => 'e_im_dev_io_entry', 'Text' => 'Device Handle: 5' } ], 'name' => 'IM Report', 'address' => 'Address', 'productID' => 'INTRFC-MGR01' };