my $dumpedValues = $dumper->Dump(); ... eval $dumpedValues; #### $name="MyName";$location="MyLoc";$mapRef="MyRef";$type="MyType";$description="MyDesc"; #### my ( $name, $location, $mapref, $type, $description ) = @$fields; #### $fields = [ qw{name location mapref type description} ]; #### ### Evaluate perl record string to set $fields array reference my $fields; eval $_; die if $@;