$data = readRaw(table name); sub readRaw { my ($rawfilename) = @_; my $dbCommand = 'select '.join ',', @rawFields; $dbCommand .= qq^ from $rawfilename;^; $dbHandle=$db->prepare($dbCommand); $dbHandle->execute(); my $data = $dbHandle->fetchall_arrayref(); $dbHandle->finish; foreach my $rows (@$data) { my %GenericData; @GenericData{ @rawFields } = @$rows; # NOTE added push @rawRecords, \%GenericData; } return \@rawRecords; }