It is often useful to control the memory layout of fields in a data structure to match an interface control definition, or to interface with hardware. Define a data structure matching the RS-232 Plug Definition. Use the 9-pin definition for brevity.

Pin Settings for Plug
(Reverse order for socket.)
__________________________________________
1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10 11 12 13
 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
_________________
1  2  3  4  5
6  7  8  9
25 pin                        9 pin
1 - PG   Protective ground
2 - TD   Transmitted data     3
3 - RD   Received data        2
4 - RTS  Request to send      7
5 - CTS  Clear to send        8
6 - DSR  Data set ready       6
7 - SG   Signal ground        5
8 - CD   Carrier detect       1
9 - + voltage (testing)
10 - - voltage (testing)
11 -
12 - SCD  Secondary CD
13 - SCS  Secondary CTS
14 - STD  Secondary TD
15 - TC   Transmit clock
16 - SRD  Secondary RD
17 - RC   Receiver clock
18 -
19 - SRS  Secondary RTS            
20 - DTR  Data terminal ready      4
21 - SQD  Signal quality detector
22 - RI   Ring indicator           9
23 - DRS  Data rate select
24 - XTC  External clock
25 -

use Bit::Vector::Minimal qw();
my $vec = Bit::Vector::Minimal->new(size => 24);
 
my %rs232 = reverse (
     1 => 'PG   Protective ground',
     2 => 'TD   Transmitted data',
     3 => 'RD   Received data',
     4 => 'RTS  Request to send',
     5 => 'CTS  Clear to send',
     6 => 'DSR  Data set ready',
     7 => 'SG   Signal ground',
     8 => 'CD   Carrier detect',
     9 => '+ voltage (testing)',
    10 => '- voltage (testing)',
    12 => 'SCD  Secondary CD',
    13 => 'SCS  Secondary CTS',
    14 => 'STD  Secondary TD',
    15 => 'TC   Transmit clock',
    16 => 'SRD  Secondary RD',
    17 => 'RC   Receiver clock',
    19 => 'SRS  Secondary RTS',
    20 => 'DTR  Data terminal ready',
    21 => 'SQD  Signal quality detector',
    22 => 'RI   Ring indicator',
    23 => 'DRS  Data rate select',
    24 => 'XTC  External clock',
);
 
$vec->set($rs232{'RD   Received data'}, 1);
$vec->get($rs232{'TC   Transmit clock'});