if(ref($content->{'A'}) eq 'ARRAY'){
  # this is an array so need the [0] in there
  $x=$content->{'A'}[0]{'R1'}{'T1'}{'S1'},
  $y=$content->{'A'}[0]{'R1'}{'T1'}{'content'}
  .
  . # more dereferencing further along the tree
}else{
  # this is not an array 
  $x=$content->{'A'}{'R1'}{'T1'}{'S1'},
  $y=$content->{'A'}{'R1'}{'T1'}{'content'}
  .
  . # more dereferening further along the tree
}

##</code><code>##

$ifarray = "{'A'}[0]" else $ifarray = "{'A'}"