I'm writing a script which adds a string in records in one file, based on the presence of a part number in a second file. Basically, I search the first file, and whenever I find the flag I want, I add it to a hash like so:

$part_file{$pf_columns[0]} = 'Y';

$pf_columns[0] contains a string with the part number. Later on, I iterate over the lines of the second file. I grab the part number, and do something like this:

if (exists $part_file{$partnum})
{
do_this();
}

[download]


The problem is, the if() block never runs. If I replace the exists with defined it still doesn't work. Now, if I replace the $part_file{$partnum} with $part_file{"SOME_PART_NO"} it works fine, for every line of the file. If I print out keys %part_file, then all the part numbers are there.

What am I missing here?

Thanks,
--J

In reply to Odd Hash behavior by SpritusMaximus

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