my $opts = [map {[$_->{acct_name}=>$_->{acct_id}]} @activeUserAccts]; print Dumper $opts; my $active_user_acct = $acct_frame->Optionmenu(-options=>$opts, -command=>sub {},-variable=>\$activeUserAccts[0], -width=>25 )->grid(-row=>3, -column=>1,-sticky=>'nw');