Your immediate problem is that perl interprets your %{ as a hash slice (see http://docstore.mik.ua/orelly/perl/learn/ch05_05.htm for a small example)

Your larger problem is that you want to use a technique that is a relict from perl4 days and only (if at all) suitable for quick hacks

Instead of using 

my %{"platform_$site"};
${"platform_$site"}{"thingy"}= 5;
foreach my $x ( keys %{"platform_$site"}) {
  ...

[download]
use multidimensional hashes 
my %platform;
$platform{$site}{"thingy"}= 5;
foreach my $x ( keys %{$platform{$site}}) {
  ...

[download]

You can use the same technique for your arrays as well, i.e. use a so called HashOfArrays:

push @{$platform{$site}}, 1,2;
$platform{$site}[5]= 5;
foreach my $x ( @{$platform{$site}}) {
  ..

[download]

PS: I also notice you don't use 'use warnings;' and 'use strict;' at the beginning of your script. It is highly advisable to include those two lines. Avoids many bug finding sessions later.

In reply to Re: syntax for hashes with variable in name by jethro
in thread syntax for hashes with variable in name by equick

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