If you want to go on with DB_File, have a look at Storable. It serializes data structures which you can then store into a DB_File database file. Or have a look at MLDBM - it stores multi-level hash structure in a single level tied hash.

Best is the one that fits your needs ;-)

--shmem

_($_=" "x(1<<5)."?\n".q·/)Oo.  G°\        /
                              /\_¯/(q    /
----------------------------  \__(m.====·.(_("always off the crowd"))."·
");sub _{s./.($e="'Itrs `mnsgdq Gdbj O`qkdq")=~y/"-y/#-z/;$e.e && print}