i posted this today, but better restate it because i'm ready to jump out the window:
my data is below. it does not have columns, but is indented in some places. the ";"'s separate the records.
I need to:
1. open the file (i can do this)
2. read the contents so that the stuff between the ";"'s are stored as separate records, and so i can access each line as a field within that record. I know this has to be a hash, but i'm not having any luck and i think it's because but i can't figure out what the refs are because i don't really have a first column where the indents are.
3. search for a matching word (i can do this)
4. get stuff out of the record with the matching word and print it out. (i can do this) 

CODE____________
open(FILE, "$lfilename") or &dienice;
while(<FILE>) {
     @row = split(/\;/);
     if ($row[0] eq "A001"){
        %data;
        @data{@fields} = @row; 
        push @records, \%data; 
    }
 }    
close (FILE);
foreach my $ref ( @records ) {
    print $ref->{Don't know what to put here};
}


DATA____________
Begin Product A0001
    Small gadget
    5.00 0.00
    0.25 0.00
    No ; Tracking Inventory?
    /Images/gadget1.jpg
    ProdText\A0001.txt
    Begin Option Gadget Color
        Red
        Green
        Blue
        Yellow
        Black
        White
    End Option
    Begin Option Extra Attachment
        No Attachment <NoShow>
        Attachment ($5.00 extra) <+5.00> <NoTitle>
    End Option
End Product
;
Begin Product A0002
    Huge Widget
    25.00 2.50
    20.00 0.00
    Yes ; Tracking Inventory?
    /Images/gadget2.jpg
    ProdText\A0002.txt
    Begin Option Widget Color
        Red
        Green
        Blue
        Yellow
        Black
        White
    End Option
    Begin Option Monogramming
        Include monogramming <NoTitle> <Custom:0.05>
        No monogramming <NoTitle>
    End Option
End Product
;
Begin Product GPY01A1
    GPY Angel 1 Print 8.5x11
    140.00 0.00
    1.00 3.00
    No ; Tracking Inventory?
    http://www.monkey-n-around.com/GPY/gallery/images/sang1.JPG|http:/
+/www.monkey-n-around.com/GPY/gallery/images/sang1.JPG
    ProdText\GPY01A1.txt
    SoftGoodControl: ::0:0
    PriceCategory: Wholesale:114.00:114.00 Retail:114.00:114.00 Reside
+ntial:114.00:114.00 Commercial:114.00:114.00
End Product
;

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In reply to how to hash this by malaga

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