I'm trying to figure out how to set a variable in the calling package that use's a package.

That question might not have been entirely clear, so let me provide an example. Consider the following three files:

    --- dev.pl
    #!/usr/bin/perl -w
    use strict;
    use lib './';
    use MyPackage;
    
    
    --- MyPackage.pm
    package MyBase;
    use strict;
    use Utils;

    # return true
    1;
    
    
    --- Utils.pm
    package MyPackage;
    use strict;

    # export
    use base 'Exporter';
    our @EXPORT = qw{mysub};

    # import
    sub import {
        # what goes here to set $var in the caller package?
        # E.g. $MyPackage::var
        
        # export symbols
        MyPackage->export_to_level(1, @_);
    }

    # some subroutine
    sub mysub {
        # how do I access $var in the caller package?
        # E.g. $MyPackage::var
    }

    # return true
    1;
[download]

Here's what I want to happen. When MyPackage uses Utils, Utils create a variable in MyPackage which can be accessed as $MyPackage::var. Furthermore, mysub() needs to be able to get to that variable when it's called. Of course, Utils doesn't know the name of the caller until, y'know, it's called, so I can't just hardcode in a package name.

I think I could muck out a solution using a lot of evals, but that seems like it would be very inefficient. Something a little more in keeping with how symbol tables work seems like a better solution.

---

---

Posts are HTML formatted. Put <p> </p> tags around your paragraphs. Put <code> </code> tags around your code and data!

Titles consisting of a single word are discouraged, and in most cases are disallowed outright.

Read Where should I post X? if you're not absolutely sure you're posting in the right place.

Please read these before you post! —

• How do I compose an effective node title?
• How do I post a question effectively?
• Markup in the Monastery

Posts may use any of the Perl Monks Approved HTML tags:

a, abbr, b, big, blockquote, br, caption, center, col, colgroup, dd, del, details, div, dl, dt, em, font, h1, h2, h3, h4, h5, h6, hr, i, ins, li, ol, p, pre, readmore, small, span, spoiler, strike, strong, sub, summary, sup, table, tbody, td, tfoot, th, thead, tr, tt, u, ul, wbr

You may need to use entities for some characters, as follows. (Exception: Within code tags, you can put the characters literally.)

	For:		Use:
	&		&
	<		&lt;
	>		&gt;
	[		&#91;
	]		&#93;

Link using PerlMonks shortcuts! What shortcuts can I use for linking?

See Writeup Formatting Tips and other pages linked from there for more info.