Loading Hashes Into Perl

echoangel911 has asked for the wisdom of the Perl Monks concerning the following question:

Hello, I have a file that contains hash data and within perl, I load it using $hashvalue = do "$filename". I was wondering within the file containing the hash, am I able to reference sames values at different locations? As an example, my file has the following:

$data = {
'CATNUMBER' => '6',
'STATEMENT' => 'THERE EXIST 6 CATS',
}
[download]

How can I replace the 6 with the CATNUMBER value?

Comment on Loading Hashes Into Perl Download Code

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Re: Loading Hashes Into Perl by Fletch (Bishop) on Jul 27, 2006 at 14:39 UTC
You can't as you have it. However since you're loading the code with do you can write any valid Perl and it'll work fine. `$data{ 'CATNUMBER' } = 6; $data{ 'STATEMENT' } = "THERE EXIST $data{ 'CATNUMBER' } CATS";` [download] (Minor style point: note that the quotes on the keys aren't strictly needed since you're using the fat comma `=>` operator, nor are they needed in my sample; however I've started to use them myself after getting into the habit in Ruby where you can't omit them :)	[reply] [d/l] [select]
Re: Loading Hashes Into Perl by swampyankee (Parson) on Jul 27, 2006 at 14:44 UTC
`$data{STATEMENT} =~ s/\b\d+\b/$data{CATNUMBER}/;` [download] would be one way, but it would only work if you don't have a string of the form "`There is 1 grey and 4 ginger cats`". If you do, a bit more sophistication is involved. If (a big condition, I realize) you've got control over how the file is set up, you could consider some distinct markers for the values you want to replace. You've really got to be a bit more forthcoming with your requirements and expectations. Giving one case, which may very well be special, is really not a good way to ask a question emc Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read. Groucho Marx	[reply] [d/l]
Re: Loading Hashes Into Perl by sh1tn (Priest) on Jul 27, 2006 at 14:36 UTC
$data->{'STATEMENT'} =~ s/6/$data->{'CATNUMBER'}/;	[reply]