my %directions = ( 1=>'NORTH', 2=>'SOUTH', 3=>'EAST', 4=>'WEST' ); my $table_fwd = My::DualVar->new(%directions); my $table_rev = My::DualVar->new(reverse %directions); tie $direction, \$table_fwd; my ($dir, $dir2) = (4, 1); tie $dir, \$table_fwd; tie $dir2, \$table_fwd; print_dualvar($dir); ++$dir2; print_dualvar($dir2); tie $dir2, \$table_rev; for $dir2 (qw(SOUTH WEST EAST)) { $dir = $dir2 + 0; print_dualvar($dir); }