do { my $a = { "%cdp" => { "1.4" => { id => "switch", ip => "1.2.3.4", platform => "WS-C6509", } }, "%datahash" => { cdp => { "1.4" => 'fix', "1.5" => 'fix' }, }, }; $a->{"%datahash"}{cdp}{"1.4"} = $a->{"%cdp"}{"1.4"}; };