@FILENAMES = ("MAPLESTEA.txt" , "HOTPIZZA.txt" , "EURODOLLAR.txt"); end result i want to be is $HASH{"CANADA"}{"MAPLESTEA.txt"} = 1; $HASH{"USA"}{"HOTPIZZA.txt"} = 1; $HASH{"EUROPE"}{"EURODOLLAR.txt"} = 1;