my $foo = [('') x 9]; push @$_, $foo for \@f1,\@f2,\@f3; format = +-----------------------+ | @ @ @ | @ @ @ | @ @ @ |~~ @{shift @f1} |-------+-------+-------| | @ @ @ | @ @ @ | @ @ @ |~~ @{shift @f2} |-------+-------+-------| | @ @ @ | @ @ @ | @ @ @ |~~ @{shift @f3} +-----------------------+ . write;