I have some alumni data from which I need to extract useful info. To that end I'm trying to go from the native (pseudo)XML file to a key/value hash.
Before stripping out the excess XML tags the @info array has the full record of one person, a sample of which is in Listing 1. Listing 2 is printed by the code segment shown and the error message is below that.
I've preloaded %data hash just to be sure I can see if there are any changes in the hash.
I'd like to know what the error means, but the real question is how to transform an array into a hash.
The nature of this data is that the keys will all be unique.
(code being tested on a Win98 PC using Active State version 5.005_03)

########### Code Segment ##############
my %data = (one => 1, two => 2, three => 3);
:
# XML stripped off here
:
print @info;                # Prints Listing 2
print %data;                # bottom of listing 2
%data = @info =~ /(\w+)\s*(\w+)/g;    # Line that gives error
print %data;                # Prints nothing
#######################################

### Listing 1 ###
<Position>      Stdnt</Position>
<GradYear>      1987</GradYear>
<WebPage>       http://</WebPage>
<E-mail>        SomeAddr@abc.com</E-mail>
<Comments>      Needs highschool yearbooks</Comments>

### Listing 2 ###
Position    Stdnt
GradYear    1987
WebPage    http://
Email        SomeAddr@abc.com
Comments    Needs highschool yearbooks
three3two2one1

### Error message ###
Applying pattern match to @array will act on scalar(@array) at e.pl li
+ne 29
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Due to the embedded spaces in some of the data, a better approach might be to strip the XML and create the hash in the same step, but not till I can get through this problem.

Update: Thank you Zaxo, saintmike and ysth. I'm still recovering from the first bout of flu I've had in 20 years and not thinking clearly. I'll put this to use in a few days. Again, thanks!