Here's an example of creating a data structure similiar to what you're talking about, and popping and pushing elements into it.

I also tend to prefer the arrow notation, rather than the implicit mode. I believe the arrow notation makes it more clear. But that may be my 'C' background talking.

Update: Looks like I was too slow. Oh well.

#!/usr/local/bin/perl -w
 
use strict;
use Data::Dumper;
 
{
   my @arr = ({-a => [qw(a1 a2 a3)]}, {-b => [qw(b1 b2 b3)]}, {-c => [
+qw(c1 c2 c3)]});
 
   print "Dumping initial data structure -->\n";
   print Dumper ([\@arr]), "\n";
 
   print "Displaying elements of @arr [1]->{-b} -->\n";
   print "$_\n" foreach (@{$arr [1]->{-b}});
   print "\n";
 
   pop (@{$arr [2]->{-c}});
 
   print "Dumping data structure with @arr[2]->{-c} popped (no c3) -->
+\n";
   print Dumper ([\@arr]);
 
   push @{$arr [0]->{-a}}, "a4";
 
   print "Dumping data structure with a4 added to @arr[0]->{-a} -->\n"
+;
   print Dumper ([\@arr]);
}
[download]

--Chris

e-mail jcwren