You want @$aref = @$tables{$table_name}; instead of 
@$aref = $tables{$table_name};

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As for why $aref = $tables{$table_name} doesn't work, it's because $aref is just a scalar value, so you're just changing the value of the lexical $aref, not @fields.

/s

Update: See replies -- I forgot the curlies around $tables{$table_name}.

In reply to Re: Referencing a HoA by educated_foo
in thread Referencing a HoA by Anonymous Monk

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