I want to create a scalar named by a string. So, given string "foo" I end up with scalar $foo. The idea is to concatenate strings "foo" and "bar" within a subroutine so as to create the name of arbitrary scalar $foobar.

Two examples, reduced to absurdity, follow...

EXAMPLE 1: 

sub N_scalars {
  my ($prefix, $qty) = @_;
  ...unknown magic here...
}

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...such that if I later call... 
N_scalars("foo",5);

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...it initializes five scalars as if I had done... 
$foo_1 = '';
$foo_2 = '';
$foo_3 = '';
$foo_4 = '';
$foo_5 = '';

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EXAMPLE 2: 
sub arb_scalars {
  foreach $foo (@_) {
    ...unknown magic here...
  }
}

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...so that if I later call... 
arb_scalars("alfa","bravo","charlie");

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...it works as if I had done... 
$alpha = '';
$bravo = '';
$charlie = '';

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I know that looks ridiculous, but it is a useful way to automate other subs. I can do it in PostScript simply by converting a string to a variable. The real world use I am shooting for is more complicated. But if the above could be done, then I could also do what it is I have in mind. I could get around it with references, but the result would be unreadible a hundred lines further down the file. To use named scalars would be much preferable. But my sub, to be flexible, ought be fed a list of strings from which to create its vars.

I'm guessing it might be impossible. Does anyone know?

Thanks,

Gan

update (broquaint): dropped <pre> tags and added formatting

In reply to create arbitrarily named scalars by aplonis

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