This is not a direct answer to your question
but you can store and use variables and its values from .ini files
You have config::inifiles perl module to read and write into it effectively.
http://search.cpan.org/~shlomif/Config-IniFiles-2.47/lib/Config/IniFiles.pm
You can look in to that.
Vivek
-- In accordance with the prarabdha of each, the One whose function it is to ordain makes each to act. What will not happen will never happen, whatever effort one may put forth. And what will happen will not fail to happen, however much one may seek to prevent it. This is certain. The part of wisdom therefore is to stay quiet.