Passing array names into a function

Hi folks I think I am being dumb but I just can't figure out a way to do this: I have a static array inside a function, and I want caller to be able to set/get values in the array. Something like this: <?php data_store( "set", "my_array['key1']['key2']", "my new value") function data_store( $action, $variable, $value ) { static my_array = array( ) ; if( $action == "set" ) { // set my new value } } ?> I have been mucking about with eval( ) and with variable variables, but can't get it to work. Can some kind person point out what I am missing?? Thanks Geoff Caplan