banzai:

I'd suggest using another dimension in your hash, e.g. $cells{$row}{$i} or adding a delimiter $cells{"$row.$i"}, otherwise your code will have difficulty when your array gets larger. "Hmmm ... $cells{'111'} ... is that row 1 column 11 or row 11 column 1?"

...roboticus

When your only tool is a hammer, all problems look like your thumb.