GhodMode has asked for the wisdom of the Perl Monks concerning the following question:

I get this error message when I try to run my script, but not when I use perl -c...

Can't use string ("1") as a HASH ref while "strict refs" in use at ./UsageCount.pl line 230, <USAGE_FILE> chunk 3.


Here's line 230...

$sw_ctype_brkdown{$switchnum}{$calltype}{seconds} += $seconds;

$switchnum and $calltype are both valid scalar values and I use them as indexes to the same hash at other points in the script.
seconds is just what I want the index for that dimension of the hash to be.
$seconds is a valid scalar with a number in it.
  • Comment on Can't use string "1" as a HASH ref while "strict refs" in use

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Re: Can't use string "1" as a HASH ref while "strict refs" in use
by Chmrr (Vicar) on Mar 04, 2002 at 18:24 UTC

    It's trying to tell you one of the following; either $sw_ctype_brkdown{$switchnum}{$calltype} = 1; or $sw_ctype_brkdown{$switchnum} = 1; It's impossible to tell which at this point. In any case, you're treating something as a hash reference which is really the number 1. Data::Dumper might be your friend in this case, to help track down what your data structure actually looks like.

    perl -pe '"I lo*`+$^X$\"$]!$/"=~m%(.*)%s;$_=$1;y^`+*^e v^#$&V"+@( NO CARRIER'

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      $sw_ctype_brkdown{$switchnum}{$calltype} does equal 1, it's an increme
+nted count of how many lines in a file I'm parsing have that $switchn
+um and that $calltype.

The $switchnum and $calltype are defined right before the problem line
+ with a substr of a line in the file.

I want to be able to get a count of how many lines there are with that
+ $switchnum $calltype using
print "$sw_ctype_brkdown{$switchnum}{$calltype}\n";

and the number of seconds for that $switchnum and $calltype using
print "$sw_ctype_brkdown{$switchnum}{$calltype}{seconds}\n"

Should I give the value of the seconds to a completely separate hash w
+hich will use the same first two indexes?

Thanks,
  Vince

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        You need to choose one or the other -- either it's a scalar, or it's a hash reference. It can't be both.

        That said, you're probalby better off with it as a hash reference. That is, make your c"ount of how many lines" be $sw_ctype_brkdown{$switchnum}{$calltype}{lines} and your count of the "nuber of seconds" be $sw_ctype_brkdown{$switchnum}{$calltype}{seconds} -- this way, you keep to one data structure, and it's a structure which explains itself. This is always a plus.

        perl -pe '"I lo*`+$^X$\"$]!$/"=~m%(.*)%s;$_=$1;y^`+*^e v^#$&V"+@( NO CARRIER'

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Re: Can't use string "1" as a HASH ref while "strict refs" in use
by tradez (Pilgrim) on Mar 04, 2002 at 19:22 UTC
    one of those is simply a scalar. to find out which add this code precursing that line 
    print "ref of switchnum = ref($switchnum) \n
       ref of calltype = ref($calltype) \n";

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    The one that is ne "HASH" is your culprate

    Tradez
    "Never underestimate the predicability of stupidity"
    - Bullet Tooth Tony, Snatch (2001)
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      Let's try: 
      my $switchnum = 15;
my $calltype = []; # Empty array ref
print "ref of switchnum = ref($switchnum) \n
       ref of calltype = ref($calltype) \n";

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      It prints: 
      ref of switchnum = ref(15) 

       ref of calltype = ref(ARRAY(0x1234567))

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      Guess what: you can't interpolate functions that way :)

      Try this one: 
      ref(eval "\$$_") or warn "\$$_ is not a reference" for qw(switchnum ca
+lltype);

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      ++ vs lbh qrpbqrq guvf hfvat n ge va Crey :)
Nabgure bar vs lbh qvq fb jvgubhg ernqvat n znahny svefg.
-- vs lbh hfrq OFQ pnrfne ;)
    - Whreq

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