how to $hash{key}{@keys} = @values

rduke15 has asked for the wisdom of the Perl Monks concerning the following question:

Hello, I would like this cool shorthand to assign values to a hash slice, but I'm stumped at how to make this work in a hash of hashes. It may be simple, but I don't get it.

use Data::Dumper;

@keys = qw(A B C);
@values = qw(1 2 3);
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The following works, of course:

@hash{@keys} = @values;
print Dumper(\%hash);
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but I would like the results of this clumsy code:

%hash=();

$hash{x}{A} = 1;
$hash{x}{B} = 2;
$hash{x}{C} = 3;
print Dumper(\%hash);
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... in a shorter and nicer syntax like the 1st example. Unfortunately, whatever I tried, it doesn't "do what I mean":

%hash=();
$hash{x}{@keys} = @values;
print Dumper(\%hash);
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gives me $hash{x}{3} == 3. Writing @hash{x}{@keys} = @values; or @{$hash{x}{@keys}} = @values; doesn't help. Thanks in advance for sharing your wisdom...

Comment on how to $hash{key}{@keys} = @values Select or Download Code

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Re: how to $hash{key}{@keys} = @values by dave_the_m (Monsignor) on Apr 10, 2005 at 16:11 UTC
`@{$hash{key}}{@keys} = @values` [download] Dave.	[reply] [d/l]
Re^2: how to $hash{key}{@keys} = @values by rduke15 (Beadle) on Apr 10, 2005 at 16:20 UTC
Thanks a lot! I thought I had tried all the possible incantations, but I had missed this one. It even makes sense, now that I see the solution.	[reply]
Re^3: how to $hash{key}{@keys} = @values by ysth (Canon) on Apr 10, 2005 at 22:52 UTC
It more than makes sense, it's readily derivable. First, take the basic form of access you want, in this case a hash slice: `@hash{@keys}`, then replace the variable name (but leave the sigil) with an expression for the reference in curly braces: `hash` becomes `{$hash{key}}`, leaving `@{$hash{key}}{@keys}`. I'd recommend taking a peek at References quick reference.	[reply] [d/l] [select]