One helpful way to think of this problem may be to replace the cumbersome expression 
$fileinfo{$md5hash}{path}

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with a simpler, single scalar. That's what that big ugly thing holds after all, a scalar reference to an anonymous array structure. Something like
$aref=\@{$fileinfo{$md5hash}{path}}

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would do the trick. Then you can use this scalar reference to your anonymous array like this:
$aref->[0]
$#$aref
for $x (@$aref) {...}

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and so on.
This can be a handy technique sytactically, but also because it reminds you as the programmer what is really stored in those fancy complex data structures like the one you're using. They're just collections of scalar references to other collections, and as such can be passed around as an atomic piece of information. Of course, the correct DE-reference is crucial, but as you can see from above, you can just think of the expression "$aref" as another way of saying "that anonymous array over there". Then things like "$#$aref" (or $#{$aref} if you like) are not so alien.
Good luck with your data mining. Now just for fun, try adding time-lapse views of your filesystem to this structure :)
Paul

In reply to Re: How to reference a nested anonymous array by shelob101
in thread How to reference a nested anonymous array by djw

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