use strict;
my $self = {};
my $f1   = "aaa";
my $f2   = "bbb";
my $f3   = "CCC";
my $val  = "val1";

# Create another valid branch
$self->{$f1}{$f2}{DDD} = 'val2';

# Looking to test for:   $self->{$f1}{$f2}{$f3} = val1 
# But DON'T want to create anything if it isn't created

print "pre count = ".%$self."\n";
print "found\n"  if (defined $self->{$f1} && defined $self->{$f1}{$f2} && defined $self->{$f1}{$f2}{$f3});
print "post count = ".%$self."\n";