In Perl, every other array element is actually the index value. If you run into errors using associative arrays in Perl that tell you that you can’t use an undefined value as a symbol reference ...

Basically, use <B>open</B> to create a filehandle (in the appropriate mode -- e.g. read, write, append, whatever) and then pass that as the first argument to printf, then close the filehandle.

Perl is a messy, maddening programming language, the “duct tape of the internet.” But at least you can tell it was made by humans.