Hi all, I want to update a multi-dimensional hash in less lines, and tried to use the slice technique. This works great for a single dimensional hash but i can't seem too do it with a hash of hash. e.g. 1-d hash

%hash = (
    Name => 'myname',
    Number => 'my1234'.
    Rank => 'myrank',
});
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updating the hash using a slice:

@hash{"Name", "Number", "Rank"} = ("Kakarot", "3", "SSJ3");
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or

my @desc = ("Name", "Number", "Rank");
my @vegeta = ("Vegeta", "2", "SSJ2");
@hash{@desc} = @vegeta;
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i'd like to use the slice to add data into a hash of a hash (and depending on the data, a further hash from there onwards). Say, this hash:

my %h = (
        Flinstones => {
                Dad => "Fred",
                Mom => "Wilma",
                Kid => "Pebbles",
                Pet => "Dino"
        },
        Simpsons => {
                Dad => "Homer",
                Mom => "Marge",
                Kid => "Bart",
                Pet => "Santas_Little_helper"
        });

my @desc = ("Dad", "Mom", "Kid", "Pet");
@h{TEST =>{@desc}} = ("Mr", "Mrs", "baby", "none");

foreach my $a (keys %h){
        print "Key 1 => $a\n";

        foreach my $b (keys %{$h{$a}}){
                print "\tKey 2 => $b\n";
                print "\t\tValue => $h{$a}{$b}\n";
        }
}
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This give me an error in printing, but i'm not sure i'm inserting it right?

(#prints existing data fine but...)
Key 1 => TEST
Can't use string ("Mr") as a HASH ref while "strict refs" in use at sl
+ice_hoh2.pl line
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I also tired the referenced approach:

my $href = {
        Flinstones => {
                Dad => "Fred",
                Mom => "Wilma",
                Kid => "Pebbles",
                Pet => "Dino"
        },
        Simpsons => {
                Dad => "Homer",
                Mom => "Marge",
                Kid => "Bart",
                Pet => "Santas_Little_helper"
        }};

my $desc = ["Dad", "Mom", "Kid", "Pet"];
@{$href->{TEST}->{[@$desc]}} = ("Mr", "Mrs", "baby", "none");
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but this has referenced data showing in the output. Not quite sure how it holds up in the hash :s

Key 1 => TEST
Can't use string ("Mr") as a HASH ref while "strict refs" in use at sl
+ice_hoh2.pl line 35.
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Where am i going wrong here?, i can get it done in multiple lines:

$h{TEST}{Dad} = "dad_TEST";
$h{TEST}{Mom} = "mon_TEST";
$h{TEST}{Kid} = "Kid_TEST";
$h{TEST}{Pet} = "pet_TEST";
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I'd much rather have slicker looking code :)
Essentially, i'll be reading a file to build my hash of hash. in terms of the example , the data would be the family name followed by the values seperated by tabs, a new 'family' for each line:

Family1   Dad1   Mom1   Kid1   Pet1
Family2   Dad2   Mom2   Kid2   Pet2
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Thanks in advance for any help.
Snk1977