Re: Using variables in array names

[polypompholyx]

in reply to Using variables in array names

Yes, but you probably don't want to do it:

no strict 'refs';
my $point1 = 'valpt';
@$point1 = (1,2,3);
# symbolic reference
print @valpt;

Or (your specific request):

no strict 'refs';
my $point1 = 'valpt';
eval "\@use_$point1 = (1,2,3)";
print @use_valpt;

For several security and bug-hunting reasons, this is a very bad idea. What you probably want is a hash instead...

my $point1 = 'valpt';
my @array = (1,2,3);
$foo{ "use_$point1" } = \@array;
# hard reference to array stored in hash %foo
print @{ $foo{ 'use_valpt' } };
# dereference arrayref stored in %foo under 'use_valpt' key

You can then access your data by the name chosen in $point1 without worrying about creating global variables all over the place. Have a look at perlref.

[ikegami]

Why the eval???

no strict 'refs';
my $point1 = 'valpt';
eval "\@use_$point1 = (1,2,3)";
print @use_valpt;

can be written as:

no strict 'refs';
my $point1 = 'valpt';
@{"use_$point1"} = (1,2,3);
print @use_valpt;

[polypompholyx]

Because I am being particularly dim today. You're quite right: using eval is unnecessary, and may well be like handing a box of matches to a kid whose already playing with petrol. I shouldn't have mentioned it :)