if($hl->itemExists($path,0)){
#if($hl->info(exists, $path)){ # tried both info and itemExist alternately, but :(
        print "itemexists ...\n";
    $hl->itemConfigure($path,0,-text=> $hash->{$user}->{$tool}->{tool});
    $hl->itemConfigure($path,1,-text=> $hash->{$user}->{$tool}->{issued})
;
    $hl->itemConfigure($path,2,-text=> $hash->{$user}->{$tool}->{inuse});

       $hl->itemConfigure($path,3,-text=> $hash->{$user}->{$tool}->{inuse},
-style => $color);

        }
        else
        {
        print "Inside else ....\n";
        $hl->add($path);
    $hl->itemCreate($path,0,-text=> $hash->{$user}->{$tool}->{tool});
    $hl->itemCreate($path,1,-text=> $hash->{$user}->{$tool}->{issued})
;
    $hl->itemCreate($path,2,-text=> $hash->{$user}->{$tool}->{inuse});

    $hl->itemCreate($path,3,-text=> $hash->{$user}->{$tool}->{inuse},
-style => $color);




        }