A clear case of my overthinking the problem. Your first example does what I am needing. However I wonder if you can explain why the following occurs:

Code:
package apackage;
my $test="my_variable_name";
my $default_value="the value I set";
$$test = $default_value;
print "the value of \$my_variable_name = $my_variable_name\n";
package main;
$my_variable_name = "A new value";
print "the value of \$my_variable_name = $my_variable_name\n";
print "the value of the package variable = $apackage::my_variable_name
+\n";

[download]
Output:
the value of $my_variable_name = the value I set
the value of $my_variable_name = A new value
the value of the package variable = the value I set

[download]

which works and is what I need,

but...

Code:
package apackage;
my $test="my_variable_name";
my $default_value="the value I set";
our $$test = $default_value;
print "the value of \$my_variable_name = $my_variable_name\n";
package main;
$my_variable_name = "A new value";
print "the value of \$my_variable_name = $my_variable_name\n";
print "the value of the package variable = $apackage::my_variable_name
+\n";

[download]
Output:
Can't declare scalar dereference in our at -e line 5, near "$test ="
Execution of -e aborted due to compilation errors.

[download]

In reply to Re^2: symbol table vs. eval by raflach
in thread symbol table vs. eval by Anonymous Monk

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