You may not even need to code anything to extract your data into a Perl hash, thanks to Config::General. Say that your data file (named foo.txt) looks like this:

name = Joe
job  = dishwasher
rate = 6.50
disp = grumpy

Then the following code will parse it, and create the hash for you:

use strict;
use warnings;
use Config::General;

my $conf = Config::General->new('foo.txt');
my %hash = %{ $conf->{DefaultConfig} };

print $hash{name},"\n";
print $hash{job},"\n";
print $hash{rate},"\n";
print $hash{disp},"\n";
[download]

Be sure and read the docs for more info.

Config::General is not the only good Config module available on CPAN, i also recommend Config::Tiny, Config::IniFiles, and Config::Simple.

jeffa

L-LL-L--L-LL-L--L-LL-L--
-R--R-RR-R--R-RR-R--R-RR
B--B--B--B--B--B--B--B--
H---H---H---H---H---H---
(the triplet paradiddle with high-hat)