This is the hash structure

    'image' =>
    {
        'linux_axp_lpae' =>
        {
            # Mandatory
            image_name => 'uImage-axp-lpae',
            code_ref => 'linux_3.2.40_13q3_uni',
            linux_image => 
            {
                compiler  => 'v7_le_sfp_latest',
                defconfig => 'armada_xp_v7smp_defconfig',
                modules   => '1',
                config    =>
                {
                    'CONFIG_ARM_LPAE' => {value => 'y'},
                    'CONFIG_SQUASHFS' => {value => 'y'}
                },
            },
            'post_script' => ['cesa/openswan/ipsec_build.sh']
        },
}
[download]

  <image image_name="uImage-axp-lpae"
         code_ref="linux_3.2.40_13q3_uni">
    <linux_image compiler="v7_le_sfp_latest"
                 defconfig="armada_xp_v7smp_defconfig"
                 modules="1">
      <config image="CONFIG_ARM_LPAE"
              value="y" />
      <config image="CONFIG_SQUASHFS"
              value="y" />
    </linux_image>
    <post_script>cesa/openswan/ipsec_build.sh</post_script>
  </image>
[download]

just an idea:
code_ref => 'linux_3.2.40_13q3_uni' should look like -> code_ref => ['linux_3.2.40_13q3_uni']

for that you have to do something like this:
${${$hash{'image'}}{'linux_axp_lpae'}}{'code_ref'}=@{'linux_3.2.40_13q_uni'};


$perlig =~ s/pec/cep/g if 'errors expected';

it does the job

i searched a bit and i am surprised there is no option for XMLout that does this

Thanks again