open (NEW , "< /text.txt"); while(){ @val=split /\t/; $Tech_fy_reldata{$val[$npo]}{$val[$fy_closed]}[0] = '0'; } ________OUTPUT_______ $VAR5 = 'Data'; $VAR6 = { '2007' => [ '0' ] }; $VAR7 = 'DataBase'; $VAR8 = { '2005' => [ '0' ], '' => [ '0' ], '2007' => [ '0' ], '2004' => [ '0' ], '2006' => [ '0' ] };