I'd avoid XML::Simple. Use XML::Twig instead. XML::Twig looks more complicated (and is), but it's often easier to get right! The problem is that XML::Simple makes guesses about sensible defaults for handling XML files that are fine for a small number of simple applications such as configuration files (where it works very well), but are just plain broken for many tasks. And when stuff breaks with XML::Simple it's often hard to figure out why. Note that it is XML::Simple, not XML::Easy!