#--------------------------------- # reading an existing record #--------------------------------- # the constructor will also perform a query if desired use MySchema; $obj = MySchema->new('primary-field-value-to-lookup'); defined($obj) || die "no record found for 'primary-field-value...'"; # get field-values $name = $obj->name; $addr = $obj->address; # you can alternatively perform an explicit query $obj->MySchema->new; $obj->getRecord('primary-field-value'); ...