I’d like to help, but I don’t know what I can add to what’s already been said.

Maybe you need to read up on references? Start with perlreftut, then look at perldsc and perlref. The Monastery’s Tutorials section also has a sub-section on References. And if you have access to the Camel Book, have a look at Chapter 8. Then go back over the replies above by choroba and by me.

Hope that helps,