The output rule for char * translates to:

• Use strlen() to find the first "\0"
• Allocate a new scalar
• Copy the string up-to and including the terminating "\0" into the new scalar

which isn't much use for strings containing binary data.

My preference for this type of thing is to have Perl allocate the space, pass a pointer to it into the C code, have the C code fill it in.

You are already doing this with "packedMatrix". So you can just unpack that variable after the C code finishes. BTW, don't put packedMatrix in the OUTPUT: section or your packed string will get overwritten with a copy of the packed string upto the first "\0".

        - tye (but my friends call me "Tye")