%cat_options = Admin_Get_Cat_options_hash(); # Here is Admin_Get_Cat_options_hash code: sub Admin_Get_Cat_options_hash { my %options_list; $sth = $dbh->prepare (qq{ SELECT id,c_name FROM categories }); $sth->execute(); while (my ($id,$c_name) = $sth->fetchrow_array()) { $options_list{$id} = $c_name; } $sth->finish(); return(%options_list); }