Thanks. I am able to understand your code the best, yet hashes are still confusing to me. With this said, I have a couple of questions:

1) If you are returning "%data" (A hash), how is this being stored in "@records" (an array?)

2) The "print @$_ for @records" prints everything fine, but how would I only print one of the three?

Here is the real data I using. 
    OSPF AS SCOPE link state database
 Type       ID               Adv Rtr           Seq      Age  Opt  Cksu
+m  Len 
Router   1.1.252.17    1.1.252.17    0x80002db7  2418  0x22 0xffa2  84
  bits 0x0, link count 5
  id 172.16.22.0, data 255.255.255.0, Type Stub (3)
  TOS count 0, TOS 0 metric 1
  id 1.1.254.4, data 255.255.255.255, Type Stub (3)
  TOS count 0, TOS 0 metric 0
  id 1.1.254.1, data 1.1.254.42, Type PointToPoint (1)
  TOS count 0, TOS 0 metric 65
  id 1.1.254.41, data 255.255.255.255, Type Stub (3)
  TOS count 0, TOS 0 metric 65
  id 1.1.254.42, data 255.255.255.255, Type Stub (3)
  TOS count 0, TOS 0 metric 0
  Aging timer 00:19:42
  Installed 00:40:15 ago, expires in 00:19:42, sent 00:40:13 ago
  Last changed 1d 00:00:21 ago, Change count: 420
Router  *1.1.254.1     1.1.254.1     0x80000723  2421  0x22 0x7d4  108
  bits 0x0, link count 7
  id 1.1.254.59, data 1.1.254.59, Type Transit (2)
  TOS count 0, TOS 0 metric 1
  id 1.1.254.44, data 255.255.255.252, Type Stub (3)
  TOS count 0, TOS 0 metric 1
  id 1.1.254.1, data 255.255.255.255, Type Stub (3)
  TOS count 0, TOS 0 metric 0
  id 1.1.254.3, data 1.1.254.33, Type PointToPoint (1)
  TOS count 0, TOS 0 metric 32
  id 1.1.254.32, data 255.255.255.252, Type Stub (3)
  TOS count 0, TOS 0 metric 32
  id 1.1.252.17, data 1.1.254.41, Type PointToPoint (1)
  TOS count 0, TOS 0 metric 65
  id 1.1.254.40, data 255.255.255.252, Type Stub (3)
  TOS count 0, TOS 0 metric 65
  Gen timer 00:09:38
  Aging timer 00:19:38
  Installed 00:40:21 ago, expires in 00:19:39, sent 00:40:19 ago
  Last changed 1d 00:00:21 ago, Change count: 609, Ours
Router   1.1.254.3     1.1.254.3     0x80002dea   692  0x22 0xe24d  72
  bits 0x0, link count 4
  id 172.16.16.0, data 255.255.255.0, Type Stub (3)
  TOS count 0, TOS 0 metric 1
  id 1.1.254.3, data 255.255.255.255, Type Stub (3)
  TOS count 0, TOS 0 metric 0
  id 1.1.254.1, data 1.1.254.34, Type PointToPoint (1)
  TOS count 0, TOS 0 metric 32
  id 1.1.254.32, data 255.255.255.252, Type Stub (3)
  TOS count 0, TOS 0 metric 32
  Aging timer 00:48:28
  Installed 00:11:29 ago, expires in 00:48:28, sent 00:11:27 ago
  Last changed 22:41:31 ago, Change count: 28
Router   1.1.254.57    1.1.254.57    0x80001040    23  0x22 0xe8a7  72
  bits 0x2, link count 4
  id 1.1.254.59, data 1.1.254.57, Type Transit (2)
  TOS count 0, TOS 0 metric 10
  id 1.1.252.192, data 255.255.255.192, Type Stub (3)
  TOS count 0, TOS 0 metric 10
  id 10.2.20.0, data 255.255.255.0, Type Stub (3)
  TOS count 0, TOS 0 metric 10
  id 10.2.18.0, data 255.255.255.0, Type Stub (3)
  TOS count 0, TOS 0 metric 10
  Aging timer 00:59:36
  Installed 00:00:22 ago, expires in 00:59:37, sent 00:00:20 ago
  Last changed 6w3d 08:01:42 ago, Change count: 3
Extern   0.0.0.0          1.1.254.57    0x8000101d    23  0x20 0xc0b2 
+ 36
  mask 0.0.0.0
  Type 2, TOS 0x0, metric 1, fwd addr 0.0.0.0, tag 0.0.126.75
  Aging timer 00:59:36
  Installed 00:00:22 ago, expires in 00:59:37, sent 00:00:20 ago
  Last changed 6w3d 08:02:28 ago, Change count: 1

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In reply to Re^2: Is there a better way to approach this? by ewhitt
in thread Is there a better way to approach this? by ewhitt

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