Given that you have strict turned on, I'd really like to see the version of Perl that the code you posted compiles with ... Fix those problems first, and your bug(s) will be more evident.

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We are the carpenters and bricklayers of the Information Age.

The idea is a little like C++ templates, except not quite so brain-meltingly complicated. -- TheDamian, Exegesis 6

Please remember that I'm crufty and crochety. All opinions are purely mine and all code is untested, unless otherwise specified.