regarding my @rv = $dbh -> selectall_arrayref( $commands, undef, ( $query ) ); :

@foo=$arrayref makes a one element array containing that reference. @foo=@{$arrayref} will probably do what you want. sample :

$bar=1;
@foo=$bar;
print @foo,"\n";
$bar=["this","is","an","arrayref"];
@foo=$bar;
print @foo,"\n";
@foo=@{$bar};
print @foo,"\n";
$bar=&baz;
@foo=@{$bar};
print @foo,"\n";
@foo=@{&baz};
print @foo,"\n";
sub baz {
    return["this","is","also","an","arrayref"];
}
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OK?