Such discussion of my little problem! Here's what I wound up with: # Set _fields and stash the values @{$self}{ @{$self->{_fields}} = keys %$r } = map {defined?$_:""} values %$r; Gotta set my little _fields field, and handle the undefs that DBI passes back. Thanks to alla y'all. xoxo, Andy -- # Andy Lester %_=split';','.; Perl ;@;st a;m;ker;p;not;o;hac;t;her;y;ju'; print map $_{$_}, split //, 'andy@petdance.com' ==== Want to unsubscribe from Fun With Perl? Well, if you insist... ==== Send email to <fwp-request@technofile.org> with message _body_ ==== unsubscribe