$DATA{1}{a}{e} = 'snu';
$DATA{2}{a}{f} = 'woo';
$DATA{3}{b}    = 'foo';
$DATA{4}{a}{e} = 'bar';
$DATA{5}{d}    = 'bop';

##</code><code>##

put_element($DATA{3}, 'h', 'i', 'worked');

##</code><code>##

$DATA{3}{h}{i} = 'worked';

##</code><code>##

sub put_element
{
  my $current = shift || die("Need root hash reference for put_element!"); # reference to the current level
  my $value   = pop   || die("Need value to be put for put_element!");     # value to be placed in structure

  $current = $$current{shift(@_)} while (@_ > 0);
  ${$current} = $value;
  return 1;
}