or download this
sub meld_columns {
my ($arrays, @arrNames) = @_;
...
my %arrayHolder = map { $_ => [] } 'a' .. 'z'; # build the initial d
+ata structure (instead of named arrays)
my @out = meld_columns( \%arrayHolder, 'a' .. 'h' ); # meld just A th
+rough H
my @out = meld_columns( \%arrayHolder, 'f', 'a', 'c' ); # meld just F
+ A C, in that order.