categorized question QandAEditors <!-- I [jdporter] RECOMMEND THIS CatQ for SOPWIFICATION! (but delete this comment first!) --> I can take a slice of an array ref, but not of a hash ref:<br> <code> my $arr =[1,'a',2,'b']; my $hash={1,'a',2,'b'}; print join ':',(@$arr )[1,2]; print join ':',(@$hash){1,2}; </code> The first print statement works, the second is a syntax error. I also have this problem when taking a slice of an anonymous hash: <code> print join ':',(1,'a',2,'b')[1,2]; print join ':',(1,'a',2,'b'){1,2}; </code> Again, the first statement works, but the second is a syntax error. 1832