Problem with the HTML::Form inputs method

ReformSchooler has asked for the wisdom of the Perl Monks concerning the following question:

I'm trying to create a hash of form fields and values using HTML::Form. Note from the code below that I'm using the LWP content method to fetch the form.

The relevant code is:

use HTML::Form;
my $form = HTML::Form->parse($response->content, $targetURL);
map $fields{$_} = $form->value($_), $form->inputs;
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When I run this code I get the error message:
No such field 'HTML::Form::TextInput=HASH(0xa02cd30)'

When I supply a list of field names in place of $form->inputs everything works as expected.

When I try dereferencing $form->inputs I get the error message:
Can't use string ("31") as a HASH ref while "strict refs" in use or Can't use string ("31") as an ARRAY ref while "strict refs" in use (depending on whether I dereference $form->inputs as a hash or as an array).

The Perl HTML::Form documentation describes the inputs method as follows:
$form->inputs This method returns the list of inputs in the form.

Any idea what the problem is?

I've got a work around using HTML::TokeParser but I'd rather learn why I can't get the inputs method to return a list I can use in my code.

Thanks! Mutant solved my problem. Another step along the path of figuring out object oriented programming!

-- Chris

Comment on Problem with the HTML::Form inputs method Download Code

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Re: Problem with the HTML::Form inputs method by Mutant (Priest) on Oct 25, 2004 at 15:46 UTC
The inputs() method returns an array of HTML::Form::Input objects. To access the data, you need to use the accessor methods of that class, ie. `map $fields{$_->name} = $_->value, $form->inputs;`	[reply] [d/l]