[MacPerl] complex data structures

[artengn@callamer.com (Bob Elder)]

Hello,

        I am having trouble understanding how to use complex data
structures. In particular associative arrays of associative arrays.

        If the individual elements are:

$rec{1}{"key"}="some_key";
$rec{1}{"info"}="some_info";

$rec{2}{"key"}="some_key";
$rec{2}{"info"}="some_info";
        ...

$rec{n}{"key"}="some_key";
$rec{n}{"info"}="some_info";

...how do I:

        1. save the structure to & read the structure from disk

        2. use `keys' & `values'

        3. do I have a dimensional limit
                 ex. $rec{1}{@some_array};
                     $rec{1}{"some_info"};     # a real structure

Simple examples will work for me.

***>    Also, has anyone found perl5 to *not* release memory properly. I am
using a mac 660AV to do my development on. This computer is unfriendly to
may programs so the problem may not be perl. However, it does act a lot
like Netscape in that way and perl4 is no problem. If I load BBEdit after I
load perl5, my mac crashes. As a matter of fact, may of my programs will
not load after perl5. Even after perl has quit there seems to be a shortage
of memory. Sigh:-! <***

        Anyway, I really appreciate macperl and this list. Thanks a!!

Bob