I find that this code is really all i need to read a file in. cat env.ini

[DB]
# PRISM PROD
PRISMSID = XX
PRISMSVER = X.XX.com
PRISMUSER = X
PRISMPASS = X
PRISMPRT = 1522

[EMAIL]
# EMAIL for the program
emailSENDER = xxx@xxx.com
emailRECIPIENTS = xxx@xxx.com,xxx@xxx.com
ADDITIONAL_EMAIL = xxx@xxx.com

# EMAIL for DIGITAL PRINT
ACTIVATION_FILE_SENDER=xxx@xxxx.com
ACTIVATION_FILE_MAIL_LIST=
ACTIVATION_MAIL_SUBJ=(PROD) | DAILY DIGITAL PRINT ORDERS

[PATHS]
RETURNFILE=/mnt/pcard/Return
RETURNFILEWIN=\\xxxx\pcard\Return
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Snippet of code

sub getConfig
{
   my $file = shift(@_) ;

   my $function = ( caller(0) )[3] ;
   print "$function \n" ;


   # get the script .ini file
   my $script = basename($0);
   $script =~ s/\.\///;
   $script =~ s/pl$/ini/;

   my @files =  ("env.ini", "config/$script") ;

   foreach my $file (@files) {
      unless ( -f $file ) {
         print "Could not find $file.\n" ;
         next ;
      }
      print "Config File : $file\n";
      open(FH , "< $file");
      my @array = <FH>;
      close FH;

      my $group = 'default';

      foreach my $line (@array) {
         chomp($line);
         next if ( $line =~ /^\s*\#/);

         if ($line =~ /^\[\w+\]$/){

            $line =~ s/\[//g;
            $line =~ s/\]//g;
            $line =~ s/\s*//g;
            $group = $line;
            print "Found group : $group \n";

         }else{

            next unless ($line =~ /=/) ;
            my ( $key, $variable ) = split( /=/, $line, 2 ) ;
            $variable =~ s/\s+//g ;
            $key =~ s/\s+//g ;

            $ref->{$group}->{$key} = $variable;

         }
      }
   }

return;
}
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Outputs

$VAR1 = {
          'CLIENT' => 'X',
          'DB' => {
                    'PRISMPASS' => 'X',
                    'PRISMPRT' => 'X',
                    'PRISMSID' => 'X',
                    'PRISMSVER' => 'X',
                    'PRISMUSER' => 'XX'
                  },
          'EMAIL' => {
                        'emailRECIPIENTS' => 'xxx@xxx.com,xxx@xxx.com'
+,
                       'emailSENDER' => 'xxx@xxx.com'
                     },
          'PATHS' => {
                       'RETURNFILE' => '/mnt/pcard/Return',
                       'RETURNFILEWIN' => '\\\\xxx\\pcard\\Return'
                     },
          'config' => {
                        'Date' => '20141212',
                        'ENV' => 'PROD'
                      }
        };
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