Thanks so much for this! Just as a quick follow-up, do you have any thoughts why I might be receiving an error when I change the 'if' to a 'while' statement? All I've changed is the 'if' for a 'while', but then the following appears when I try to run: 
syntax error at step_two_redux.pl line 19, near "else"
syntax error step_two_redux.pl line 28, near "}"
Execution of step_two_redux.pl aborted due to compilation errors.

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In reply to Re^2: Perl beginner's issue with hash by Maire
in thread Perl beginner's issue with hash by Maire

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